Author: Basmajian Ani

NATO-Sponsored Conference on Pollution Detection Hosted by WIU

Newswise
June 22 2004

More than 30 scientists from 14 world nations will participate in the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Advanced Study Institute Tuesday,
July 6 through Friday, July 16 at Western Illinois University.

Newswise — More than 30 scientists from 14 world nations will
participate in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Advanced
Study Institute (ASI) Tuesday, July 6 through Friday, July 16 at
Western Illinois University.

This institute, “Plant Bioassay on the Genotoxicity of Contaminated
Water, Air and Soil,” is a subdivision of the NATO Environmental
and Earth Science and Technology (EST) Program that deals with the
detection of genetic damage from common pollutants, radioactive
pollutants and the contaminants from warfare in water, air and soil.
The focus of the institute will be on the eastern European area.

The NATO/EST Advanced Study Institute will introduce participants
to the principles and technical skills of three biological tests
(Allium-micronucleus, Tradescantia-micronucleus, Tradescantia-Stamen
Hair Mutation) using the genetic material of plants – – onions
(Allium) and spiderworts (Tradescantia) – – through tutorial
instruction and hands-on exercise. The participants, mostly from
the eastern European area, will then complete follow-up studies to
monitor and detect genetic damage of environmental pollutants in
each of their home territories, explained Te-Hsiu Ma (say Tee Mah),
Western Illinois University biological sciences professor emeritus,
who serves as co-director of the institute along with Professor Rouben
Aroutiounian from Armenia, under the directorship of Dr. Alain Jubier,
NATO Science Affairs Division.

“Special emphasis will be aimed at radioactive and warfare contaminants
in the environment in the eastern European area, and reports of the
follow-up studies will be published to show the status of pollution
level in these countries and the potential genetic damage to the
ecosystem and human health,” Ma said. “In the long run, this monitoring
program could contribute to homeland security of this area.”

A common plant, the Spiderwort (Tradescantia species) is used in two
(Stamen-hair- mutation, and Micronucleus) of the three tests. The
Stamen-hair-mutation (Trad-SHM) test, developed by the late Dr.
Arnold Sparrow of Brookhaven National Laboratory (NY), detects gene
mutation. The micronucleus (Trad-MCN) test, developed in 1976 by
Ma during a six-month sabbatical leave at the Brookhaven National
Laboratory, detects chromosome (DNA) damage from chemical and physical
pollutants, including radiation.

Genetic materials in plant cells are more sensitive to pollutants
than those of animal cells because there is less protection in plant
tissues from the impact of pollutants, Ma explained. These genetic
tests which are highly sensitive, simple and economical have been
used in more than 40 countries across five continents for more than
30 years. Test results of the Trad-MCN test and Allium-micronucleus
test can be obtained within 24 to 48 hours, while results of the
Trad-SHM test require at least seven days.

Institute participants will receive instruction and have hands-on
experiment exercises during daily laboratory sessions in Western’s
Radiation biology lab, which is equipped with X-ray and Gamma ray
facilities; the Cytogenetic lab; as well as the Nuclear Physics
laboratories in the physics department. Assisting with the physics
lab work will be WIU physics Professor Keh-Chang Chu and Assistant
Professor Brian Davies.

Ten international scientists will join Ma in presenting specialized
lectures, including radioactive pollution from the Chernobyl nuclear
power plant accident; plant bioassay in carcinogen screening;
contaminated soil from ammunition testing grounds; genetic toxicity
of common poison, cyanide and arsenics; epidemiology of respiratory
patients and on-site genetic toxicity monitoring; remote sensing of
environmental pollution; ecology and ecosystem change as well as the
variation of background radiation around a nuclear power plant.

Opening ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 6 in Morgan
Hall 109, followed by an address by Ma on the timetable, DNA damage
from chemical and physical pollutants and the mission of the Advanced
Study Institute.

Ma joined Western’s biology faculty in 1964. He retired in 1997;
however, he has maintained his laboratory and has increased his
international activities. Since developing the Trad-MCN bioassay
in 1976, Ma has conducted 89 workshops around the world, training
scientists on the three simple and effective genetic tests, under
the auspices of the International Program on Plant Bioassays.

Opening ceremonies and lecture sessions during the NATO/EST/ASI
program are open to any individuals who are interested in the topics,
according to Ma.

Additional support for this ASI is provided by Western’s College of
Arts and Sciences and the department of biological sciences.

Media representatives are invited to attend the 10 a.m. July 6 opening
ceremony in Morgan Hall 109 and any of the lectures. Media may also
make arrangements to film or photograph participants during afternoon
laboratory sessions. Additional film/photo opportunities include a
Saturday, July 10 banquet/reception at 6 p.m. in the University Union
and a Sunday, July 11 field trip for participants to Mark Twain’
s Cave in Hannibal, MO, followed by a tour and dinner at Western’s
Alice Kibbe Life Sciences Station in Warsaw.

WATT UNDERSTANDS ABELYAN ‘MIND GAME’

sportinglife.com, UK
June 18 2004

Scots boxing legend Jim Watt claims William Abelyan is trying to put
pressure on the judges by hinting he could suffer from a home-town
decision in his challenge for Scott Harrison’s WBO world featherweight
title.

The former WBC lightweight champion will be commentating at ringside
when Harrison defends his title against the American-based Armenian
in front of 6,000 at the Braehead Arena.

However, Watt pointed to Manuel Medina’s points win over Harrison
a year ago when he took the title from the Cambuslang man – before
losing it in the rematch – as proof that the challenger will get a
fair crack of the whip.

He said: “One of the things the Abelyan camp are worrying about is
not getting the verdict if they win.

“But Medina has proved you can come away from Braehead with a verdict
and the official who voted for Scott that night has virtually been
told he’s not welcome back in the country to officiate again – which
is right because Medina won the fight, no question of that.

“But I think it’s a wee bit of gamesmanship from Abelyan’s camp,
maybe trying to put pressure on the judges.

“I saw Bernard Hopkins doing that a couple of weeks ago and it worked
for him so it may be the same thing from Abelyan.”

Watt insists the fear of another loss in front of his own fans and
the repercussions in terms of Harrison’s career, will be a driving
force for the Glaswegian.

He said: “Defeat would be a total disaster for Scott because Abelyan
is the number one contender and he won’t get a rematch.

“If Abelyan leaves town with the title then he doesn’t have to come
back and Scott is back in the queue.

“He’ll have to start facing people like Injin Chi and Juan Manuel
Marquez, who are tougher routes to a title than Abelyan so Scott will
be aware of that.”

Watt admits the assured looking challenger is unlikely to be unnerved
by taking on Harrison in front of his own fans but the former world
champion expects the Cambuslang man to win through in the end.

He said: “I don’t think he’ll be affected by nerves, he seems to have
a fairly cool head so although boxing at home will be a big advantage
for Scott I don’t think it will trouble Abelyan too much.

“I see it as a tough match, Abelyan can box with different styles,
he’s not one dimensional.

“But Scott has all the physical advantages so I don’t expect Abelyan
to stand and trade punches with him.

“But when all’s said and done, if you look through both their records,
Scott’s the one with experience at the top level so, for me, he is
a comfortable favourite and I expect him to win clearly.

“I think it will go the distance but I expect Scott to win and look
good doing it.”

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
June 17 2004

US expanding military co-op with ‘regional leader’

The visits by Deputy Commander of the Headquarters of the U.S.
European Command, General Charles Wald and NATO Under Secretary
General, chairman of the Science Committee, Jan Furne to Baku have
drawn much attention in the region. Azerbaijan and Georgia appreciate
these visits, but Iran and

Russia, as well as their ally Armenia, are envious of them. In
particular, General Wald’s friendly meeting with President Aliyev and
his high assessment of Azerbaijan and its incumbent authorities
sparked differing opinions not only in the region but also in
Azerbaijan, especially among the opposition. On Thursday, President
Aliyev received a US delegation headed by General Charles Wald.
President Aliyev said that there has been great progress in the
development of US-Azerbaijani relations.

Regarding his talks at NATO as an important event in Azerbaijan’s
integration into NATO, Aliyev expressed his confidence that future
cooperation with the Alliance would be successful. “Mr. President, I
congratulate you on your successful leadership in the region,” said
General Wald, stressing that the US European Command is eager to
continue cooperation with Azerbaijan in the future. He underlined
that Azerbaijan is a leading and very important country in the
region. Speaking about the particular importance of joint programs,
General Wald said that joint measures are being taken by the two
countries in order to ensure security in the Caspian basin. He noted
that the security of oil pipelines is still on the agenda and that
military exercises and training with the participation of special
groups set up in Washington will be continued for the purpose. This
is the third visit by General Wald, who last came to Baku in April.
The US General said that the aim of his visit was to discuss the
issues related to the security of the Caspian basin and the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. According to some observers, Wald came
to Baku to discuss the stationing of US mobile forces and a military
base in Azerbaijan and observe the pace of the construction of a
military post here.

Strategic interests

Defense Minister, Colonel-General Safar Abiyev, in a meeting with
General Wald said the situation in the South Caucasus is tense and
that part of Azerbaijan’s territory remains under Armenian
occupation.

“The Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Upper Garabagh cannot remain
frozen”, Abiyev said and pointed out the importance of recognizing
Armenia as an aggressor. Expressing his adherence to Abiyev’s
opinions, General Wald said: “We are well aware of the developments
ongoing in the region.” he said. Regarding the “Cooperative Best
Effort-2004” training to be held in Azerbaijan as an important event,
the US General stressed that this would bring the country closer to
NATO. He termed Azerbaijan as an influential country in the region
and pointed out the coinciding strategic interests of the US and
Azerbaijan.

US military bases

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan were indicated in the “Pentagon’s new map”
published by Harvard University as the countries where the United
States is going to station its military bases.Commenting on the
issue, political analyst Vafa Guluzada said that the Pentagon intends
to set up a chain of military bases in the territory of the former
Soviet Union. According to Guluzada, with this infrastructure the
United States wants to turn both the former Soviet Union and the
Middle East into an integrated area. Underlining that the Pentagon
attaches great importance to Azerbaijan, the political analyst said
Georgia has also established military cooperation with the United
States. Guluzada noted that, however, Azerbaijan is a more important
country in the region for its oil and gas resources. ” Taking into
account all the existing factors, one can conclude that the United
States will station its military bases in Azerbaijan at the
appropriate time,” he added.

NATO week starts

NATO week, which started in Baku on June 13, will last through June
19. A delegation headed by NATO Under-Secretary General, chairman of
the Science Committee, Jan Furne arrived in Baku on Sunday for the
event. The delegation includes representatives from twenty-six
countries. Summer classes on “NATO in the changing world” started in
Baku on Monday with the assistance of the Youth Euro-Atlantic
Organization and the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan. The purpose of
the event, attended by some 50 Azerbaijanis and foreign nationals, is
to hold discussions among young researchers of the NATO and
Euro-Atlantic security, government officials and foreigners. The
upcoming summit in Istanbul, new prospects, trans-Atlantic relations,
NATO’s eastward expansion, and the situation in the South Caucasus
will be discussed. Seminars, “Scientific research and security
challenges” and “Terrorism and nuclear security” will be held at Baku
State University (BSU) and the Academy of Sciences (AS) respectively.
The AZRENA public Internet center, set up within the AS Information
Technologies Institute under the “Virtual Silk Road” project, will be
inaugurated, followed by a training session for the participants of
the summer classes.

Political questions avoided

NATO Under-Secretary Jan Furne and President of the Academy of
Sciences Mahmud Karimov held a joint news briefing on Monday. Furne
said that although NATO is not engaged in science, it finances a
number of new undertakings in this area. He said the parties will not
work on any specific projects during the NATO event in Baku, but will
exchange experience in the area of chemistry and ways of preventing
catastrophes. Furne avoided all political questions. Karimov said
Azerbaijan attaches a particular importance to developing information
technologies and environmental protection of the Caspian Sea within
its cooperation with the NATO Science Committee. “Besides,
Azerbaijan, as a country subject to terror by Armenia, is working
with NATO on scientific answers to terrorism threats, he said.

Summer classes to promote NATO-Azeri relations

In a meeting with NATO Under-Secretary, science committee chairman
Jan Furne on Sunday, Defense Minister, Colonel-General Safar Abiyev
said that over 300 events are held in Azerbaijan every year under the
auspices of NATO. He said extensive preparations have been carried
out in the country for the upcoming Cooperative Best Effort-2004
training sessions and the Istanbul summit. Furne leading a delegation
of representatives from 26 countries, said the fact that the “Summer
school” week is being held in Baku promotes the multi-faceted
relations between NATO and Azerbaijan. Pointing out the importance of
President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Brussels, he emphasized that
Azerbaijan is one of the only countries to have submitted to NATO the
“Individual Partnership Activity Plan”. Touching upon the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh, Abiyev said that
Armenia has failed to comply with 4 UN resolutions on the immediate
and unconditional withdrawal from Azerbaijani territories adopted
since 1993. “By joining the NATO Partnership for Peace program,
Armenia assumed a commitment to honor the territorial integrity of
all partners and NATO, in turn, should demand it do so. We are
concerned with the fact that Armenia has not been recognized as an
aggressor country by the international community, which is a double
standard”, Abiyev said. Furne replied said that NATO is well aware of
this position and is seeking new ways to improve relations with
Azerbaijan. The parties also exchanged views on the military and
political situation in the region, the extensive economic reforms
underway in Azerbaijan and security issues.

Armenian ombudsman warns Georgia against resettling Meskhetian Turks

Noyan Tapan news agency
8 Jun 04

Tbilisi, 8 June: Armenian rights activist Larisa Alaverdyan has said
she understands the concern of the Armenian population of Georgia’s
Samtskhe-Javakheti Region over the possible mass return of Meskhetian
Turks to the region.

Larisa Alaverdyan said in an interview with [Georgian news agency]
Kavkasia-Press that if the Georgian government decides to take in
the Meskhetian Turks who wish to return to Samtskhe-Javakheti, a real
conflict might break out in the region.

Meskhetian Turks were evicted to Central Asia during Stalin’s
repression in the middle of the last century. Their return was a
condition when Georgia was admitted to the Council of Europe.

According to the Armenian ombudsman, the Georgian government should
be maximally careful and wise while taking any specific decisions on
this issue. About 300,000 representatives of this people are living
in CIS countries today. The largest diaspora of Meskhetian Turks –
about 80,000 – lives in Azerbaijan.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

June 8, 2004
___________________

CHURCH GROUP MEETS WITH U.N. CHIEF TO URGE SIGNIFICANT U.N. ROLE IN IRAQ

Church leaders who met with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan
on Monday, May 24, 2004, said they are convinced that international
involvement in Iraq is the only way to secure a lasting peace and
provide security. The group of 11 leaders from the National Council of
Churches (NCC) urged the United Nations to take that role.

The NCC delegation included Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and
ecumenical officer of the Eastern Diocese, who serves as secretary of
the NCC executive committee. The group met with the U.N. Secretary
General for 40 minutes, discussing how they could contribute to building
lasting peace in Iraq and other countries.

“The United Nations represents all the nations in the world, so the U.N.
should represent the international community,” Bishop Aykazian said.
“The U.N. can play an important role in the peaceful solution to every
problem in the world, including the problem in Nagorno-Karabagh. There
is no other power in the world that can solve the problem except the
U.N.”

The discussion at U.N. headquarters focused on the importance of
building a culture of tolerance, and to teach peace, dignity, and
respect for human rights. The delegation also shared their view that
weapons of mass destruction and terrorism concerns should not limit
efforts to combat other serious problems, such as poverty, disease, and
environmental degradation.

The church leaders pledged to provide educational resources about the
United Nations to their members and to talk with their own governments
about the importance of multilateral collaboration in Iraq.

“Secretary-General Annan was very much interested in the opinion of
religious leaders,” Bishop Aykazian said. “He thinks the churches
should play this role and even a more important role in world affairs.”

The NCC has 36 member churches, representing a reported 45 million
faithful. The delegation included religious leaders from the United
States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe.

Though many of the delegation originally opposed the war to liberate
Iraq, Dr. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the NCC said that now “people
who were for the war and people who were against the war need to come
together to find an alternative way out of the current situation.”

— 6/8/04

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable on the Eastern
Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan meets with 11
leaders from the National Council of Churches (NCC) on Monday, May 24,
2004.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical
officer of the Eastern Diocese, joins a delegation welcomed to the
United Nations headquarters by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan for a
discussion on the U.N. role in Iraq on Monday, May 24, 2004.

# # #

Igdir Residents Demand Closure of Metsamor Nuclear Plant

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
June 8 2004

Baku Today 08/06/2004 12:24

Residents of Turkey’s northeastern province of Igdir, which borders
Armenia and Azerbaijan’s autonomous republic of Nakhchivan, began
demanding Turkish authorities and international organizations help
close down Armenia’s Metsamor nuclear power plant, Anadolu agency
reported on Sunday.

Mayor of the province, Nurettin Aras, reportedly said the residents are
deeply concerned over possible danger the plant may cause. He said the
Igdir residents were preparing an appeal to the Turkish government,
World Health Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) to take necessary measures regarding the Metsamor plant.

“Our residents are worried about any possible leak or explosion at
the power plant,” Aras told the Anadolu agency. “Several trees near
Armenian border have died, causing us to feel we are in danger. I
call on the World Health Organization to take action as soon as
possible. Necessary initiatives should rapidly be launched to close
down this plant.”

Aras said the Igdir residents had collected 2,500 signatures on the
first day of a one-week campaign launched by his office for closure of
the nuclear power plant, which is some 15-20 kilometers east of Igdir.

Experts believe that the Metsamor nuclear plant is a source of a
potential danger for the whole region in view of Armenia’s being
a seismically active country. A powerful earthquake that jolted
Armenia in December of 1988 put end to the lives of tens of thousands
of people.

KOCHARIAN AIDE WANTS ANOTHER KARABAKH-BORN LEADER FOR ARMENIA
By Hrach Melkumian and Emil Danielyan

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
June 7 2004

YEREVAN, 08.06.04. Garnik Isagulian, President Robert Kocharian’s
recently appointed national security adviser, said on Saturday
that Armenia’s next president should also be originally from
Nagorno-Karabakh, arguing that it is a “vital territory” for all
Armenians.

“Without Karabakh Armenia can not breathe, no matter how many borders
you reopen,” Isagulian told a roundtable discussion in Yerevan.

The adviser did not specify whom he would like to see succeed
Kocharian and when. Still, the remarks could be interpreted by some
local commentators as another indication that Kocharian’s preferred
successor is Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian, the second most powerful
government official in Armenia and also a native of Karabakh.

The two men led the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic during its
successful war with Azerbaijan before moving to higher positions
in Yerevan, with Sarkisian appointed defense minister in 1993
and Kocharian prime minister in 1997. Some leaders of the Armenian
opposition frequently attack them as the heads of the “Karabakh clan”
allegedly governing the country.

Armenia’s next presidential elections are to take place in 2008, and
its existing constitution bars Kocharian from contesting them for a
third term in office. Neither the president nor his top lieutenant,
who have been busy dealing with an opposition campaign of street
protests for the past two months, have shed light on their long-term
political plans so far.

Isagulian joined the presidential administration in early April
to take up a position that has been vacant for the past decade. A
retired officer of the Soviet-era KGB secret police, he entered the
political arena in the early 1990s, getting elected to Armenia’s first
post-Communist parliament and joining the then opposition Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun). He was expelled from the
party about two years after it was controversially banned in 1994
by former President Levon Ter-Petrosian and emerged from a political
oblivion three years ago to set up his own nationalist group called
the National Security Party.

Isagulian has since been an outspoken supporter of Kocharian and
detractor of his political opponents. He on Saturday strongly defended
the recent government crackdown on the opposition, alleging that
the latter has attempted to stage a coup and labeled Kocharian as a
“murderer.”

Ironically, Isagulian had himself faced `terrorism` and coup charges
in July 1995 along with 31 members of Dashnaktsutyun, including Vahan
Hovannisian, who is currently the deputy speaker of the Armenian
parliament. But unlike them, Isagulian went into hiding and escaped
arrest and trial. He remained on the run until Ter-Petrosian’s
resignation in February 1998.

Custody extended for Armenian opposition official

Noyan Tapan news agency
7 Jun 04

Yerevan, 7 June: The first instance court of Yerevan’s Kentron and
Nork-Marash communities chaired by judge Grachya Ovanisyan ruled on 7
June to prolong the custody term by another two months for Vagarshak
Arutyunyan, a member of the political council of the Republic Party
and former defence minister. Arutyunyan’s lawyer Robert Grigoryan,
who provided the report to Noyan Tapan news agency, noted that he
was going to protest this ruling at the court of appeals for civilian
and military cases.

Arutyunyan has been in custody since 13 April on charges under three
articles of the Criminal Code: calling publicly for the seizure of
power, insulting a representative of the authorities and attempting to
seize power. The latter article envisages imprisonment for a period
of 10 to 15 years. An appeal was sent against the first court ruling
on choosing arrest as a preventive measure, but the Court of Appeals
has not yet considered it.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION VISITED THE PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT

Macedonian Press Agency
Athens, 4 June 2004

The excellent friendly relations between Greece and Armenia as well
as the cooperation between the Greek Parliament and the Armenian
community living in Greece was confirmed by Greek Parliament President
Mrs. Anna Psarouda-Benaki and the National Council of Greek Armenians
delegation. The delegation visited Mrs. Psarouda-Benaki together with
the Metropolite of the Orthodox Armenians in Greece.

The Greek Parliament President stressed that the Armenians living
in Greece constitute a dynamic and active community that contributes
greatly and creatively to the Greek society. She also referred to the
Greek-Armenian Friendship Group formed in Parliament to be activated
shortly.

The President of the National Council of Greek Armenians expressed
feelings of gratitude to the Greek Parliament for the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide and expressed the Armenian community’s wish
for a visit to Armenia by the Greek Parliament President.

Albany Times Union, NY
June 1 2004

Ex-cop’s future on force in doubt
Legal action threatened by 2 detectives if Cmdr. Christian
D’Alessandro is rehired by the city

By BRENDAN LYONS, Staff writer
First published: Tuesday, June 1, 2004

ALBANY — Two members of the Albany police force have threatened
legal action against the city if former Cmdr. Christian D’Alessandro,
whose firing earlier this year ignited widespread controversy, is
rehired by the department.

John W. Bailey, an attorney for Cmdr. Ralph Tashjian and Detective
Susan Miller, contends at least four minority officers accused
D’Alessandro of racism when he was commander of detectives. Bailey
wrote a letter to Chief James Turley last week in which he warned
that “should the Police Department make the mistake of re-employing
Mr. D’Alessandro, my clients intend to fully explore and exercise
all of their legal options.”

Tashjian is of Armenian descent; Miller is black.

In an interview, Bailey said the letter was prompted by recent rumors
that city officials may consider reinstating D’Alessandro. He was
fired in February for allegedly lying to internal affairs detectives
about an anonymous derogatory flier that targeted Tashjian, who now
heads the detective division.

Bailey said he also represents Victor Arocho, a former city detective
who works for the FBI.

“I represent three people who are legitimately concerned
about the prospect of Mr. D’Alessandro being re-employed by the
Police Department,” Bailey said. “In their view, he treated them
inappropriately while supervising them while in the department,
and they believe it is related to their race or their ethnicity.”

D’Alessandro could not be reached for comment Monday.

On Feb. 4, two days before D’Alessandro was fired by former Chief
Robert Wolfgang, Detective Kenneth Wilcox, who is black, filed a notice
of claim against the city that targeted D’Alessandro. In the claim,
Wilcox said he “has been harassed, defamed, falsely accused, berated,
discriminated against and generally been subjected to a hostile work
environment due to his ethnicity.”

In an interview that week, Wilcox claimed D’Alessandro had been
“discriminating against black officers since 1995.”

But within many of the city’s minority neighborhoods, D’Alessandro
has won accolades from residents for his community-policing efforts.
Dozens of residents have jammed city meetings demanding he be
reinstated and charging that his critics were disgruntled officers
who were unhappy when D’Alessandro targeted their work ethic.

The charges of racism against the former commander began to surface
more than two years ago at a time when D’Alessandro was critiquing and
auditing the work ethic and standards of detectives under his command.

D’Alessandro’s standing in the department, and his relationship with
Wilcox, began to waver that year after he issued a report analyzing
the arrest production of detectives who made more than $80,000 in 2001.

Wilcox made more than $95,000 that year. But D’Alessandro’s report
said Wilcox made just four arrests in connection with the $25,000 in
overtime he was paid; in contrast, the report said, another officer
who earned $16,000 in overtime made 127 arrests. Wilcox has denied
the report was behind his lawsuit.

Other memorandums filed in early 2002 by D’Alessandro outlined serious
allegations of forgery, fraud and misconduct by detectives. He was
reassigned to patrol duties shortly after writing the memorandums.

“The memo and the timing of my transfer speaks for itself,”
D’Alessandro said previously, declining further comment.

His supporters, including many community activists, have pointed out
that D’Alessandro has been a longtime Big Brother to a black child
from Delmar and he regularly attends Bible study classes at a Baptist
church in Arbor Hill.

His firing continues to hang over the department. But police sources
said the retirements of Wolfgang and former Public Safety Commissioner
John C. Nielsen, and the promotions of three commanders to newly
created assistant chief jobs, appeared to open a new era for the
department after a year of turmoil.

Turley, who was promoted to chief on May 3, allegedly expressed his
uneasiness with D’Alessandro’s reassignment from the detective unit
two years ago, according to department sources. But whether that will
be a factor in D’Alessandro being offered his job back is unclear.

Police and city officials could not be reached for comment on Monday.