ARMENIA PROVIDES HUMANITARIAN AID TO HURRICANE-HIT US AREAS
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
MOSCOW, September 6
September 8, 2005 Thursday 12:39 PM Eastern Time
Armenia has provided 200,000 U.S. dollar humanitarian aid to residents
of the U.S. areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, the government press
service told Itar-Tass on Thursday.
Armenian President Robert Kocheryan conveyed his condolences to his
U.S. counterpart George W. Bush on the tragedy.
AZERI SOLDIER KILLED, CIVILIAN WOUNDED IN ARMENIAN TRUCE VIOLATION – TV
ANS TV Baku
6 Sep 05
An Azerbaijani soldier has been killed and a civilian wounded in
Tapqaraqoyunlu village of the country’s Goranboy District as the
Armenian armed forced violated the cease-fire on the front line,
Azerbaijan’s ANS TV said on 6 September.
The Armenian armed forces subjected the Azerbaijani village to
intensive fire from automatic guns at about 1100 gmt, ANS correspondent
said in a live telephone link-up with the studio. The firing lasted
over two hours and sounds of explosion were heard, he said.
VODKA LEMON
DVDTimes.co.uk, UK
Sept 7 2005
Vodka Lemon takes place in a Kurdish village in Armenia. It’s the dead
of winter, with temperatures twenty below zero and more. Hamo (Romen
Avinien) is a widower in his sixties, who visits his wife’s grave
and talks to her there. While there he meets Nina (Lala Sarkissian),
a widow with a daughter, and finds himself drawn to her.
It’s fair to say that examples of Armenian cinema are not thick on the
ground. In what reaches British release at least, it’s represented
almost entirely by the Canadian-based Atom Egoyan, who in films
such as Ararat has dealt with his Armenian heritage. Vodka Lemon
is very different. Hineer Saleem is an Iraqi Kurd based in Paris,
and as he makes clear in the documentary that accompanies his film,
Vodka Lemon is as much a Kurdish story. The situation in Iraq made
filming there impossible, so the story was written about the large
Kurdish population in Armenia. In terms of inspiration, this is
a world away from Egoyan’s frequently rather cerebral cinema.
Instead, Saleem aims north, aspiring to the low-key, deadpan
miserablist humour of Finnish director Aki Kaurasmaki. The result
is certainly a warm-hearted film, but to me it doesn’t equal its
inspiration. It shares its leisurely pace and poker-faced comedy with
Kaurismaki’s work, but the danger of working in a minor key is that of
slightness and inconsequentiality. And that’s where Vodka Lemon falls
down. There are certainly consolations, such as the performances and
the occasional shaft of humour. Christophe Pollock’s cinematography
makes the obviously bitterly cold settings strangely beautiful. And
the sheer novelty of seeing a film from this part of the world makes
this worth a look. The title, by the way, comes from an exchange that
Nina has with a customer at her roadside liquor store. When asked why
a drink is called vodka lemon when it tastes of almonds, she says:
“That’s Armenia!”
OSCE HEAD SEES SIGNS OF RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN
Mediamax news agency
6 Sep 05
Yerevan, 6 September: The OSCE chairman-in-office, Slovenian Foreign
Minister Dimitrij Rupel, said in Yerevan today that there are
“certain signs of rapprochement between Armenia and Azerbaijan”
on the Karabakh settlement.
Speaking at a briefing in Yerevan today, Dimitrij Rupel noted that
“the main problem in the talks lies in details”, Mediamax reports. The
OSCE chairman-in-office said that “I did not get the impression that
the forthcoming constitutional referendum in Armenia might influence
the peace process”.
Commenting on the Azerbaijani leadership’s bellicose statements,
Dimitrij Rupel said that “my interlocutors in Baku had a peaceful
and conciliatory position and I did not hear any calls for war”.
Asked by Mediamax about Dimitrij Rupel’s reaction if he receives
factual proof of the bellicose rhetoric of the Azerbaijani authorities,
Dimitrij Rupel said: “I do not welcome calls for war, we are seeking
peace. If I hear such a statement, I’ll try to urge its author to
change his mind.”
For his part, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan described as
“extremely dangerous” Azerbaijan’s illusions that the inflow of oil
dollars will ensure Baku’s superiority in resolving the Karabakh
problem in a military way. “If the Karabakh problem had a military
solution, we would not be discussing settlement issues today, as the
Armenians have won the war,” Vardan Oskanyan said. Asked about the
possible influence of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline on the settlement
process, the Armenian foreign minister said that “we prefer to
consider this project as an additional factor in the cause of
maintaining peace”.
“We proceed from the fact that numerous countries and companies are
involved in the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline and Azerbaijan will not be able
to make a unanimous decision to resume hostilities,” the Armenian
foreign minister said.
Yerevan Press Club of Armenia presents `MediaDialogue” Web Site as a
Regional Information Hub project.
As a part of the project web site is maintained,
featuring the most interesting publications from the press of Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey on issues of mutual concern. The latest
updates on the site are weekly delivered to the subscribers.
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==========================================================================
CONFLICTS
==========================================================================
PROGRESS OF NEGOTIATIONS HINGES ON SECRECY
—————————————— ———————————
Source: “Azg” newspaper (Armenia) [September 03, 2005]
Author: Tatul Hakobian
In the course of Rupel’s visit, the sides will give assessment of the
current stage of negotiations
On his regional visit, OSCE Chairman-in-office, Dimitrij Rupel will
visit Yerevan on September 5-6. Foreign Minister of Slovenia will
meet Presidents of Armenia and Mountainous Karabagh, Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian, as reported by RA MFA.
After Kazan negotiations of Presidents Robert Kocharian and Ilham
Aliev, OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmen left for the capital of Slovenia,
Ljubljana with information on the details of Kazan meeting. It is
important to note that in his public statements, Rupel separates the
MK issue from all other interethnic conflicts on CIS territory,
considering MKR a disputable territory.
After the visit of OSCE Chairman-in-office to Yerevan and Baku, the
Co-chairmen will start preparation to the next stage of meetings on
the level of Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers, likely to
take place by the end of September beginning of October. As reported
by `Mediamax’, Russian mediator Yuri Merzliakov answered the question
`Why the sides are so reserved after the Kazan meeting?’ in the
following manner, `There was an agreement on keeping the details of
discussion secret’.
`Recent negotiations of the Presidents were very useful, the
discussion was detailed and predictable’, Yuri Merzliakov stated to
Azerbaijani ANS TV Company. Russian Co-chairman refused to answer the
question whether new proposals were made in Kazan, noting only that
the `progress of negotiations hinges on secrecy’.
Merzliakov noted that the Co-chairmen will take all effort for
conducting another meeting Kocharian-Aliev until the end of the
year. The visit of the Co-chairmen to the region should take place by
December.
Yesterday Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan expressed concern over the
visit of Armenian President to Mountainous Karabagh, qualifying it as
a step impeding the process of settlement. `Regretfully, Yerevan is
taking steps that do not contribute to activation of the
negotiations’, Head of MFA Press and Information Department Tayir
Tagizade stated. Yesterday, Turkish `Hurriyet’ newspaper published an
interview with President of Azerbaijan, in which Ilham Aliev notes,
`Each Azerbaijani is deeply convinced that the day will come when the
occupied territories will be liberated and the Azerbaijani flag will
flutter over Karabagh’. Commenting on the Kazan meeting, Aliev
stated, `There are no results yet. Armenians expect that we will give
them independence, however it is impossible’.
Robert Kocharian, on a visit to Stepanakert to celebrate the 14
anniversary of Karabagh independence, stated to the journalists
yesterday that he has positive impressions of the meeting with
President of Azerbaijan in Kazan. `Positive tendencies are traced in
the negotiation process’, he stated and added, `Mountainous Karabagh
cannot be an object of bargaining, and the Armenian people are
unanimous about it’.
On his behalf, MKR President assured that MKR authorities are for a
peaceful settlement of the conflict, emphasizing that no one will
succeed depriving us of Artsakh and its independence, achieved at the
cost of inevitable losses’.
Azerbaijan is unable to protect even the rights of its own people to
say nothing of ethnic minorities living in this country. This fact is
enough to recognize the rights of Mountainous Karabagh people for
their own, sovereign state, independent from Azerbaijan’, Arkady
Ghukasian stated.
THE FACT OF AZERBAIJAN GETTING EMPTY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN KARABAGH!
—————————————————————————-
Source: “Star” newspaper (Turkey) [August 31, 2005]
Author:
We always tried to cover the real situation in the Turkic countries of
the post-Soviet space.
Azerbaijan is closest to us from all the aspects. If you allow, we
will postpone the process of settlement of Karabagh conflict, which
seems to be endless, and will present to you the demographic problems
requiring attention.
On August 27, after CIS summit of August 26 in Kazan, the meeting of
Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Aliev and Kocharian took place
there.
The recent meeting of the two leaders was held on May 16 in
Warsaw. Before each meeting, there is some information of the type,
`prior to each meeting there are details that resolution of the
conflict is close’. This time we had the same situation, however, no
concrete agreements were reached.
In compliance with the decision of UN Security Council, by April 30,
1993 the Armenians were to have liberated Kerebejer. The withdrawal of
the troops was fixed for July 15. After the coup and dismissal of
Elchibey, the troops were still there. First and foremost, the new
authorities of Azerbaijan started to withdraw the troops of Popular
Front that were fighting in Karabagh, and to dismiss them. Heydar
Aliev then stated, `Our army does not fight’. From the period of July
to October that year, the Armenians occupied 5 more regions in
Karabagh besides Kerbejer and Lachin: Agdam, Jebrail, Fizuli,
Zangelan, Kubatli.
Empty Talk
On May 1994, a truce was signed. The situation was quite uncertain. It
was not clear if Azerbaijan capitulated, lost or won.
Aliev the senior met Kocharian 22 times with no result. During OSCE
summit in Lisbon Heydar Aliev stated that Armenia occupied Azerbaijan
and put veto on OSCE decision. This event was presented as a heroic
deed; as a result, the baby boys born on these days were named after
Lisbon. Genje governor once stated, `President was a hero at Lisbon
summit’, thus entering the anthology of Azerbaijani humor.
Making a speech at the refugee camp, Heydar Aliev stated that the
Armenian Diaspora is very strong and therefore Azerbaijan will be
unable to fight against them. (2002). Armenian Foreign Minster Vartan
Oskanian constantly avoided concrete agreements, putting unacceptable
conditions for Azerbaijan and categorically rejecting Turkish
mediation.
During the two-day session at Armenian Parliament (18-19 April, 2005)
Defense Minister Serj Sargsian stated, `To strengthen second Armenian
state, we should do our best and should not allow interference of our
enemy – Turkey’.
At EU summit May 15-17, the Presidents of the two countries vested
additional powers with their Foreign Ministers to continue
negotiations. Special representative of Azerbaijan on Karabagh Araz
Azimov stated, `In August, we might probably reach an agreement’. On
August 23-24 on the eve of Kazan meeting, Foreign Ministers met in
Moscow for empty talk. Half Departed In other words, the negotiation
process was constantly underway with no result. Armenia proved
stronger in this aspect with Russia constantly at its back.
Half Departed However, let us consider the most important
aspect. There are numerous publications that only 2 million people are
left in Armenia. Still, there is the reverse of the medal. Azerbaijan
is also getting empty. Since 1993, 3 million Azerbaijanis have moved
to Russia. Even Sweden has more refugees from Azerbaijan than other
countries – over 2 thousand people. In European countries, 200
thousand Azerbaijanis enjoy a refugee status. Turkey has 200 thousand
of them, Ukraine – 300 thousand, Iran – 100 thousand Azerbaijanis.
Thus, the 8 million population of Azerbaijan is already reduced almost
twice.
The elections in Azerbaijan are close. We will still raise this issue.
==========================================================================
ECONOMY
=========================================================================
ABKHAZIAN RAILWAY IS OF NO SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE TO GEORGIA
—————————————— ——————————–
Source: “Rezonansi” newspaper (Georgia) [August 25, 2005]
Author:
The Russian side formed a group of specialists that will take up study
of the railway in Abkhazia. As you know, the railway linking Russia to
the South Caucasus countries stopped functioning because of the recent
events in Abkhazia. Up to recently, the negotiations on restoring the
railway faced an impasse. The Georgian side was categorical in
relating this issue to the return of the refugees back to the
uncontrolled autonomy. It encountered if not resistance, at least
silent disagreement of the other parties to negotiation – the
Abkhazian and Russian sides. However, the situation changed recently –
though Tbilisi thinks return of the refugees is a priority, it is more
tolerant to the issue of restoring the railway than previously.
Expert Gia Khukhashvili holds the unilateral study of the Abkhazian
segment of the railway is accorded with the Georgian side. `Our
authorities have changed their position? The refugees have not yet
returned, why don’t the authorities express their protest?’ he
asks. Thus, the expert holds that the initiative of restoring the
railway communication is fully seized by the Russians and the
Abkhazians, whereas the Georgians may finally end up in a difficult
situation necessitating constant minor and major concessions, for
instance, in such important issues as opening of the checkpoint on
Psou-Inguri segment. Khukhashvili is uncertain over the main issue too
– who will take the responsibility, and to put it directly, who will
own this segment of the railway – Russia or Georgia.
Gia Khukhashvili also traces a menace in clarifying financial
issues. He thinks the situation is quite strange. From the very
outset, Georgia insisted on purely economic nature of restoring the
railway. However, it is obvious that this issue acquired strong
political implication, given the fact that functioning of the railway
will bring maximum efficiency to Russia and particularly Armenia but
not Georgia, as Khukhashvili holds. `There is a situation of giving a
lot but getting a little. Though we do have questions – for instance,
how can the railway be restored without the involvement of the
Georgian side. Obviously, our opponents calculated everything – they
will propose something and we will agree. If it actually happens, the
suspicions about illogical behavior of our authorities will come
true’, Gia Khukhashvili holds. In his opinion, Georgia does not have
problems with cargo transportation even without this railway. The
additional railway, certainly, will never be supe! rfluous, however
it will be significant to Russia and Armenia and not Georgia. Besides,
Khukhashvili thinks it is not clear why prior to the railway recovery
the issue of regulating parallel car route, in good condition, was not
even mentioned. Besides, Khukhashvili holds it would be possible to
find out how secure the route is before starting restoration of the
railway. All this points to lobby intrigues with a different
motivation. `We are more in the political than economic field’,
Khukhashvili thinks
===========================================================================
NEIGHBOURS
=========================================================================
BAKU WILL DO ITS BEST FOR REMOVING ISOLATION OF NORTHERN CYPRUS
———————————————– —————————–
Source: “Zerkalo” newspaper (Azerbaijan) [September 05, 2005]
Author:
Head of the State Holds that No One Has a Right to Exert Pressure on
Azerbaijan
‘Azerbaijan is very strong, so Armenia will give in. However, we do
not want war, since many people will die. I believe that sooner or
later we will get our lands back. No one should ever doubt
it’. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev stated about it to Turkish
`Hurriyet’ newspaper, published on September 2, as `Trend’ agency
reports.
“Each Azerbaijani strongly believes that the time will come when the
occupied lands will be liberated, whereas the Azerbaijani flag will
again flutter over Karabagh’, President Aliev emphasized, commenting
also on the results of the Kazan meeting with President of Armenia
Robert Kocharian. `There are no results yet. Armenians are expecting
independence from us. However, it is impossible! Our priority is
preserving territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. I told Kocharian that
we are ready to guarantee security of the Armenian community of
Karabagh. I emphasized that Baku will not allow the community to face
any danger’, Ilham Aliev stated, adding that `however, they (Armenian
armed forces) are unwilling to liberate our lands’.
At the same time, I. Aliev noted that in the course of the recent
telephone conversation US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated
that Washington wants the sides to resolve the conflict. `I do not
understand why Armenia, as an occupier state, is not punished, though
I do understand that the Armenian lobby is strong. The current
situation is extremely unfair”, I. Aliev stated. He noted that after
this conversation he felt some softening in the position of Robert
Kocharian, though it was not sufficient for settling the problem.
‘We took all possible steps. However, Armenia does not heed the
opinion of the international community. Over a million Azerbaijani
citizens were left homeless. The West aspires to fast settlement. We
will do our best to this effect. Further on, we will sit down to think
it over’, I. Aliev summed up.
President of Azerbaijan also raised the issue of pressure on official
Baku as regards settlement of economic ties with the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus. First steps towards Azerbaijan were taken by the
Greek authorities, summoning our ambassador to MFA and giving him a
note. However, we did not pay attention to this. Further on, a letter
was addressed to Baku from the Republic of Cyprus, which I put aside
without opening. No one has a right to exert pressure on Azerbaijan’,
I. Aliev noted.
The Azerbaijani President also emphasized that he pays no heed to
international pressure, noting `he does not even remember the author
of the letter addressed to him from Greek Cyprus”. The Head of State
reminded that many doubted his statements on breaking the isolation
regime of the Northern Cyprus. `There were many critical articles on
my behalf. However, I kept my word. The time has come for other Turkic
states to support Azerbaijani position on this issue. Now it is their
turn to take similar steps’, I. Aliev stated.
The question of whether Azerbaijan will take new initiatives in this
direction was answered by Aliev, `We will do our utmost, since we do
believe that the isolation of Cyprus should be removed. The injustice
should be put an end to. Strangely, the punishment is put to the side
supporting UN plan on unification of the island. It is impossible
either to understand or accept’.
***************************************************************************
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OSCE NOT IN HURRY TO SOLVE KARABAKH CONFLICT
A1+
| 13:53:30 | 06-09-2005 | Politics |
“We are friends both to Armenia and Azerbaijan”, OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel upon
completion of the meeting with NKR President Arkady Ghkasyan in
Yerevan Hotel yesterday.
According to A. Ghukasyan, the meeting was longer than it was
scheduled. Is there a possibility for Nagorno Karabakh to take part
in the negotiations? “There are several formats, these being the
dialogue between the Presidents, the Minsk Group, the talks held by the
Foreign ministers. I am ready to negotiate with all the conflicting
parties including the NKR,” Mr. Ripel said. The ongoing negotiation
process D. Rupel characterized as a “good idea”. “We still have time”,
he added.
The Washington Daybook
September 6, 2005
ORGANIZATION: Woodrow Wilson Center (WWC) holds a discussion with
Artur Baghdasaryan, chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic
of Armenia, titled, “Armenia and the Future of Democracy.”
TIME: 2 p.m.
LOCATION: WWC, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300
Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
CONTACT: 202-691-4000;
TYPE: Discussion
COUNTRY: ARMENIA; ASIA;
SUBJECT: ||ARMENIA|| Foreign Affairs;
PROTEST AT TURKISH AUTHOR’S CHARGES
Virgin.net, UK
Sept 2 2005
A former minister has written to the president of the European
Commission in protest at charges brought against critically acclaimed
Turkish author Orhan Pamuk.
Denis MacShane described the news as a “sickening blow” and has
pledged to attend the trial in December.
Pamuk, whose works include Snow and Istanbul, has reportedly been
charged with insulting his nation after an interview in which he
referred to the controversial issue of deaths of Armenians during
and after the First World War and, more recently, of Kurds.
He could face up to three years in prison.
Dr MacShane, ex Europe Minister and Labour MP for Rotherham, said:
“It is a sickening blow to all pro-Turks in Britain and Europe and to
all who love the tradition of the European novel to hear the news that
the Turkish authorities seek to persecute this great European writer.”
Calling on Jose Manuel Barroso to lobby Turkey to drop the charges,
he added: “I will continue to support and argue for the right to
start EU membership talks.
“But if the authorities persist with this attack on a great European
writer then many of us who are strong supporters of Turkey will be
forced to change our minds.”
The issue of Turkish admittance to the European Union is due to be
discussed at today’s summit in Cardiff.
The UK supports Turkey joining and discussions on membership are due
to start in earnest next month.
NO IMPASSE IN NKR SETTLEMENT
By Tatoul Hakobian
AZG Armenian Daily #154, 31/08/2005
Karabakh issue
Vartan Oskanian, RA foreign minister, stated that “no breakthrough was
fixed” in the meeting of the presidents in Kazan, but “the negotiations
go on positively.” “The meeting in Kazan creates a field for the
meeting of the foreign ministers,” he said. Oskanian added that there
is no dead end in the process now, “one enters a dead end, when the
presidents find no terms,” while it didn’t happen. RA foreign minister
didn’t connect the negotiation process with the parliamentary elections
in Azerbaijan and the constitutional referendum in Armenia. “We are not
in the stage when we can inform the publicity about the details. The
sides are not apt to write down anything on the paper,” Oskanian said.
California Courier Online, September 1, 2005
1 – Commentary
Speaker Hastert Should Come Clean
By Disclosing All Contributions
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The Califorrnia Courier
2 – The Hot Dish on Armenia TV’s English-Language Talk Show
3- Argentina, 2, Turkey, 0
4 – Mesrobian School Earns
Maximum Accreditation
5 – Karen Kondazian Stars in Off-Broadway
Production of New Play ‘Kissing Fidel’
6 – Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry
Banquet Celebrates ‘Match for Life 2005′
7 – Catholicos Aram I of Cilicia to Begin
Pontifical Visit to California on Oct. 5
8 – Kick-Off Party for Pontifical Banquet
Raises More than $1 Million for Antelias
*************************************************************************
1 – Commentary
Speaker Hastert Should Come Clean
By Disclosing All Contributions
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Several important developments have taken place since Vanity Fair magazine
reported that a Turkish diplomat had talked about arranging for $500,000 in
small, un-itemized contributions of less than $200 each to House Speaker
Dennis Hastert in order to block a congressional resolution on the Armenian
Genocide in Fall 2000.
A watchdog Group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Government,
filed a complaint on August 16 urging federal officials to investigate
whether Speaker Hastert’s campaign did indeed illegally accept campaign
contributions from foreign nationals.
According to Vanity Fair, the FBI had wiretapped several Turkish subjects
or “targets” in the United States who had discussed arranging “for tens of
thousands of dollars to be paid to Hastert’s campaign funds in small
checks.”
Sibel Edmonds, a Turkish translator working for the FBI, was asked by her
superiors to review more than 40 recorded conversations of “a senior
official” at the Turkish Consulate in Chicago as well as members of the
American-Turkish Council (ATC) and the Assembly of Turkish American
Associations (ATAA) in Washington, D.C., according to Vanity Fair.
A spokesman for Speaker Hastert is quoted by Vanity Fair as saying that the
Speaker has “no affiliation with ATC or other groups reportedly mentioned
in the wiretaps. He does not know these organizations.” ATC and ATAA issued
separate statements denying the allegations made in the Vanity Fair
article.
By claiming that the Speaker “does not know these [Turkish] groups,” his
spokesman is simply undermining Hastert’s credibility and giving credence
to the allegations made against him. A quick search on google reveals that
the spokesman’s assertions are contradicted by the following facts:
— The then President of ATC, Lincoln McCurdy, sent a letter to Hastert in
September of 2000, urging him to block the pending congressional resolution
on the Armenian Genocide;
— ATC paid for several trips to Turkey by the staff of the House
Republican leadership;
— The Turkish-US Business Council (TUBC), the counterpart in Turkey of the
American Turkish Council, reported on its web site that it hosted the
Speaker of the House in Turkey in 2002 (he also visited Turkey in 1997 and
2004);
— The Turkish Daily News reported in its Feb. 5, 2005 issue that the TUBC
“helped create a Turkish caucus in the U.S. Congress” and “lobbied
successfully with U.S. lawmakers” to increase Turkey’s textile quotas and
obtain the “rejection of the so-called Armenian genocide bill in the U.S.
Congress;”
— Ercument Kilic, the then President of ATAA, wrote a letter to Hastert on
July 20, 2004, to thank him for blocking yet another Armenian resolution in
the House. Kilic called Hastert “a national leader and a great statesman.”
It would, therefore, be inconceivable that Speaker Hastert as well as his
staff would be unaware of ATC and ATAA given these groups’ active
involvement in various congressional issues for several years.
Back in October 23, 2000, the Turkish newspaper Sabah published an article
that sounded too bizarre to be taken seriously at the time, but in the
light of recent revelations, it now merits a second look. Sabah reported
that in order to persuade Speaker Hastert to block the Armenian Genocide
resolution, “the Chairman of AIPAC [The American Israel Public Affairs
Committee] met with Hastert and explained to him ‘all the concerns in plain
English.'” The AIPAC Chairman then reportedly pressured Hastert by telling
him: “You may well gain a few more Armenian votes, but have you stopped to
consider how many Jewish votes you will lose by this?”
Sabah further reported: “Another Jew had come down from Chicago and put the
squeeze on Hastert because they had financed the Republicans to the tune of
$10 million or more.” Hastert agreed to block the Armenian Genocide
resolution on condition that Pres. Clinton make such a request in writing.
Sabah reported that a “Jewish Turk from Istanbul” then contacted former
Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres who in turn persuaded Clinton to write
the requested letter. Hastert used Clinton’s letter as a cover to pull the
resolution from the House floor.
To set the record straight, once and for all, Speaker Hastert should
itemize and make public all campaign contributions he has received under
$200, even though he is not legally required to do so.
Hastert has twice reneged on his promise to allow the Armenian Genocide
resolution to come to a vote on the House floor. As another such resolution
is currently pending in the House, it remains to be seen whether the
Speaker would once again prevent the congressmen from casting their votes
on this issue? Or, would he again hide behind the President or some other
official to cover up for his unexplained desire to cater to Turkish
interests?
If the Speaker refuses to voluntarily disclose all of his campaign
contributions, the citizens of this country must pressure him to do so by:
— Demanding that there be a joint Congressional hearing on his campaign
funds (click on <; and sign
the petition calling for such a hearing);
— Making a contribution to the National Security Whistleblowers Coalition
for a newspaper ad campaign concerning the Hastert allegations (click on
<;);
— Making a contribution to the ACLU to support Sibel Edmonds’ petition to
the Supreme Court; and
— Making a contribution to the ad campaign to have the Federal Election
Commission investigate the Hastert campaign contributions (click on
<;).
This issue is not a matter of Armenians vs. Turks. It has more to do with
upholding the laws of the United States of America, starting with the
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives!
**************************************************************************
2 – The Hot Dish on Armenia TV’s English-Language Talk Show
YEREVAN – The second season of Armenia TV’s “Hotline” talk program debuts
next month on Dish Network channel 905. Over the past few months, program
host Paul Chaderjian has interviewed more than fifty guests who are working
or are involved with projects in Armenia.
“The interview show idea came to life when Armenia TV asked me to go to
Armenia and help with the coverage of the 90th Anniversary of the
Genocide,” says Chaderjian, who is a former ABC News writer-producer and
one of the hosts of the annual Armenia Fund Thanksgiving Day Telethon.
“I helped Armenia TV set up a live transmission to CNN, Associated Press,
and a few European news agencies,” says Chaderjian. “We wanted to show the
world how important the commemoration and Genocide recognition are to
Armenia and Armenians around the world. What we did was set up a satellite
feed with the help of the Foreign Ministry and broadcast the commemoration
ceremonies, interviews with scholars who had attended the Ultimate Crime
symposium, soundbites from those at the commemoration, archival photos and
footage shot from a helicopter.”
CNN and AP were among those who used the news feed and broadcast the
Genocide commemoration story during their global broadcasts and news feeds
to affiliate stations on April 24th and 25th. CNN’s Wolf Blitzer program
featured a story about the Genocide using the footage and a live interview
with California Courier Publisher Harout Sassounian.
“When I was in Yerevan,” says Chaderjian, “Armenia TV’s Bagrat Sargsyan and
I were talking about creating a venue on television where we could talk to
guests in English and reach non-Armenian speaking audiences. That’s how
‘Hotline’ was born.”
Chaderjian stayed in Armenia through May, when Armenia TV also broadcast
the May 28 Independence Day Circle Dance story to international news
gathering organizations. During his stay, Chaderjian interviewed dozens of
guests for Hotline. Among them were Genocide scholars, historian Richard
Hovannisian, environmental activists, educators, writer Michellene
Aharonian Marcom, singer Nune Yesayan, and local restaurateurs and foreign
ambassadors including Deepak Vohra from India and Norwegian representative
Tim Straight.
“There are so many interesting projects happening in Armenia and so many
interesting people coming through Yerevan,” says Chaderjian. “I feel
fortunate to have had the chance to talk to them and share the information
with diaspora audiences in Europe and back at home.”
Hotline airs on Dish Network channel 905 every day at 8:00 PM PST and
repeats Mondays through Thursday at 10:00 AM PST. More information about
Armenia TV is available through the site the Internet.
*****************************************************************
3 – Argentina, 2, Turkey, 0
YEREVAN (Arminfo) – On July 27 the National Senate of Argentina again
adopted a statement seriously condemning Turkey in
connection of Armenian genocide, which was the first genocide of the 20th
century.
A press release by the Armenian Foreign Ministry says that it is already
second statement of the National Senate of Argentina. On April 20 it
condemned the Turkish authorities for repeated denial of the indisputable
facts.
In response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry came out with a note of protest
assessing the statement by the Argentinean Senate as immoral.
On May 5, Argentinian MPs rejected the Turkish protest, calling it
“groundless.”
**************************************************************
4 – Mesrobian School Earns
Maximum Accreditation
PICO RIVERA Calif. – Once again, Armenian Mesrobian School earned the
maximum six-year accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and
Colleges (WASC). The accreditation process included many steps and
involved the participation of administration, staff, students, parents, and
community members who were formed into Home Groups and Focus Groups. In
preparation for the visit, the school surveyed students and parents,
teachers observed one another’s classes, and teachers analyzed student
work. The Home and Focus Groups held meetings to analyze the resulting data
and produced reports that were included in the school’s self-study, a
document used by the visiting committee as part of its evaluation.
During their time on campus, members of the visiting committee met with the
Leadership Team and Principal Hilda Saliba every morning to ask questions
about different aspects of the school’s program. They also held formal
meetings during which they interviewed teachers as well as students. They
observed classes in session and children during recesses and lunch breaks,
and they examined samples of student work from all grade levels and all
subjects.
On the last day of the visit, the faculty gathered in the library to hear
the report. The committee members first conveyed their personal opinions
of the school. They expressed how impressed they were with the evidence of
innovative and varied teaching methodologies used in the classrooms. They
were equally impressed with the family atmosphere that Mesrobian has to
offer. They expressed the opinion that parents should feel fortunate to
send their children to such a nurturing environment that offers such a
solid education. One member even used an analogy that compared Mesrobian
to a “diamond that is polished and faceted” and went on to say that if she
had young children she would feel comfortable sending them to Mesrobian.
Members of the committee also made a point of complimenting the principal
for her leadership skills and the teachers for their devotion to the school
and the teaching profession. In the official report the committee noted
the school’s strengths as well as areas of needed growth-areas the faculty
and administration had already identified in the self-study.
The accreditation process was demanding and lengthy, but it was well worth
the effort put forth by the administration, faculty, and staff as well as
the students and parents who were involved. It gave members of the
Mesrobian community a chance to see the school through someone else’s eyes
and a chance to reaffirm what they have felt all along: that Mesrobian is
truly a solid educational institution.
Mesrobian will be celebrating 40 years of continued service to the Armenian
community and its educating role at a Gala Banquet Oct. 21 at the Holy
Cross’ Bagramian Hall in Montebello.
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5 – Karen Kondazian Stars in Off-Broadway
Production of New Play ‘Kissing Fidel’
LOS ANGELES – Karen Kondazian, award-winning star of last year’s
critically acclaimed Fountain Theatre production of “Master Class,” returns
to New York to star in the INTAR Theatre’s Off Broadway production of
“Kissing Fidel,” a new play written by Cuban playwright Eduardo Machado and
directed by Michael John Garcé at The Kirk Theatre at 410 West 42nd Street
on Theatre Row in Manhattan. Previews begin Sept. 6. The play opens Sept.
20 for a limited run ending October 23.
‘Kissin Fidel” is an outrageous comedy/drama set in a Miami funeral home.
The matriarch is dead and the exiled family is in mourning. Tempers explode
when the deceased matriarch¹s grandson announces that he is returning to
Cuba to kiss and forgive Fidel Castro. The show is inappropriate for
children under 17.
Kondazian was recently honored with an Ovation award for her performance as
legendary opera diva Maria Callas in the award-winning eight-month run of
Master Class at the Fountain Theatre. She is considered the foremost
interpreter of Tennessee Williams’ leading ladies in Los Angeles theatre.
Williams 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.
For the Fountain she has played Maxine in The Night of The Iguana (Back
Stage West Garland award) and Lady in Orpheus Descending (Ovation Award
nomination); she has also played Alexandra del Lago (opposite Ed Harris) in
Sweet Bird of Youth and Mrs. Wire in Vieux Carre (L.A. Weekly award). She
has appeared with Richard Chamberlain in Richard II (Ahmanson), with Stacy
Keach in Hamlet (Mark Taper Forum) and in Mark Rydell’s TNT movie, James
Dean. A lifetime member of the
Actors Studio, she has studied with Lee Strasberg and Jose Quintero, and
has authored a book titled The Actor¹s Encyclopedia of Casting Directors.
The performance schedule is Tuesday through Friday at 8 pm, Sat., 2 pm and
8 pm, Sun., at 2 pm. Tickets are $25-40., and are
available by phone at Ticket Central, 212-279-4200 or online at
For further information, call 212-714-2442.
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6 – Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry
Banquet Celebrates ‘Match for Life 2005’
The Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry’s (ABMDR) “Match for Life 2005”
banquet was held at the Glendale Hilton on August 5, 2005. The event
attracted over 350 guests and dignitaries who had come to support the ABMDR
in its quest for finding bone marrow/stem cell matches for Armenian
patients, to raise funds for its ongoing operations, and to celebrate its
honorees.
The evening started with a welcome from ABMDR board member and master of
ceremonies Dr.Vergine Madelian, followed by remarks from Alique Topalian,
Armen Titizian, and Lena Dinkjian, who recounted the help and support their
families received from the ABMDR during their search for suitable bone
marrow donors. Lena announced that the ABMDR had recently found a match for
her father. Guests then viewed a moving video showing the transformation of
Aram, a young patient in Armenia, from a very sick child to a healthy and
energetic boy through the miracle of a bone marrow transplant through the
efforts of the ABMDR.
Dr. Frieda Jordan, President of the ABMDR, then summarized the
accomplishments of the Registry: close to 10,000 registered Armenian donors
worldwide, more than 400 patients identified, 300 bone marrow/stem cell
matches found, and five transplants performed in Armenia, Europe and the
USA. Future goals include recruiting 2,000 additional donors, raising
$300,000 to pay for recruitment and tissue-typing costs, establishing a
stem cell harvest center in Armenia and setting up recruitment centers in
Europe, South America, and Australia.
“Due to our widely scattered Diaspora, global expansion is crucial to the
success of the ABMDR’s mission,” Dr. Jordan explained. The ABMDR has
increased its exposure internationally, establishing recruitment centers in
high density areas of ethnic Armenians to make the ABMDR more accessible
and responsive to patients worldwide.
Recognizing their outstanding contributions to the ABMDR, Dr. Frieda
Jordan, assisted by Glendale Mayor Rafi Manoukian, presented awards to Dr.
Aida Shirinian-Kaloostian, Woman of the Year, Arthur Zakarian, Man of the
Year, Angel Markarian-Matevosian, Volunteer of the Year, and Vasken
Kaypekian of Next Day Color Inc., Business of the Year. All were also
recognized with similar awards by Glendale Mayor Rafi Manoukian, Assembly
Members Dario Frommer, Cindy Montenez and Carol Liu, Assembly Speaker
Fabian Nunez, County of Los Angeles Supervisor Michael Antonovich, Los
Angeles City
Council Member Eric Garcetti, Member of the State Board of Equalization
John Chiang, and President of the Armenian American Chamber of Commerce
Armond Agakhani.
Following the awards presentations, each honoree was given a large piece of
a puzzle; the completed puzzle revealed Yana, a patient for whom the ABMDR
has found a bone marrow donor, and who awaits a transplant. Commenting on
the puzzle as a symbol of making Yana whole again, Dr. Madelian, ABMDR
Board member stated, “It takes the concentrated efforts of several people,
each with a small piece of the puzzle, to make a complete picture . . .
funds from our supporters, time and expertise from our volunteers and
staff, and coordination and organization from the ABMDR to bring all these
pieces of good will and generosity together.”
The ABMDR is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to ensure that
every ethnic Armenian struck with a life-threatening blood-related illness
finds a genetically suitable bone marrow/stem cell match, and through that,
gets a chance at long-term survival.
The ABMDR is international in scope, with headquarters in Glendale; two
tissue-typing laboratories in Yerevan, Armenia and Pomona, California; and
recruitment centers in Glendale (at Glendale Memorial Hospital) and Los
Feliz, Beirut, Tehran, and Boston. It is a member of the Bone Marrow
Donors Worldwide, and has formed collaborations with the Caitlin Raymond
International Registry of University of Massachusetts Medical and the
Anthony Nolan Foundation in England. The Match for Life 2005 banquet brings
the ABMDR $65,000 closer to its goal of raising the $300,000 needed for
recruiting and typing the additional donors by the end of 2005, and
maintaining its global status. Dr. Jordan is confident that “there will be
many more success stories to tell in the future. And those will be made
possible through the generosity of supporters, and the dedication and hard
work of our volunteers.”
Those who wish to further assist the Registry in reaching its goals may
contact the ABMDR at: 3111 Los Feliz Blvd, Suite 206, Los Angeles, CA
90030-1519; phone (323) 663-3609; email: [email protected]; website:
**************************************************************************
7 – Catholicos Aram I of Cilicia to Begin
Pontifical Visit to California on Oct. 5
LOS ANGELES – Catholicos Aram I, of the Great House of Cilicia will begin a
15-day Pontifical visit to California on Oct. 5. 2005. The historic trip
of the Pontiff, who prominently serves as the Moderator for the World
Council of Churches (WCC), an organization representing over 400 million
Christians worldwide, will be framed around the theme of “Towards the
Light of Knowledge.
During his visit to California, the Pontiff will participate in a number of
religious ceremonies, educational programs and youth forums in Los Angeles,
Fresno and San Francisco. The visit will begin on Oct. 5 with an official
welcoming ceremony at St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church in Hollywood
and conclude with a visit to the Krouzian-Zekarian-Vasbouragan Armenian
School in San Francisco on Oct. 18. The Pontiff will visit a number of
other areas, including Fresno, where he will deliver his Pontifical message
on Oct. 10 at the historic Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church.
As the spiritual leader of the Great House of Cilicia, Catholicos Aram I
represents a religious center established in 1441 to serve the spiritual
needs of Armenians living in the Near East. For centuries, the Great House
of Cilicia maintained a network of over 15 dioceses, dozens of monasteries
and was served by hundreds of faithful priests. Following the Armenian
Genocide of 1915, during which 1.5 million Armenians were massacred and
their houses of worship destroyed, the Catholicosate was relocated to
Antelias, Lebanon.
As the Moderator for the WCC, Aram I represents the broadest and most
inclusive organization of the modern ecumenical movement, a movement whose
goal is Christian unity. The WCC brings together more than 340 churches,
denominations and church fellowships in over 100 countries and territories
throughout the world, representing some 400 million Christians. The WCC
brings together most of the world’s Orthodox churches, scores of
denominations from such historic traditions of the Protestant Reformation
as Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed, as well as many
united and independent churches.
Today the Catholicosate of Cilicia houses a prominent Cathedral, a Veharan
(the Catholicos residence), accommodations for visiting clergy, modern
printing facilities, a museum, a library, as well as administrative offices
to run a prominent Seminary and various dioceses in the United States,
Canada, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Greece and Cyprus operating under its
jurisdiction.
The visit of Catholicos Aram I to the United States has been initiated by
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church on the occasion of the 90th commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide and the 1600th anniversary of the creation of the Armenian
alphabet.
The Pontifical visit will be marked by a number of memorable occasions,
including; a pontifical mass at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale on Oct. 9, a
youth forum in Fresno on Oct. 10, a visit to Fresno University’s campus on
Oct. 11, a major address on “Christianity in the Middle East” to be
delivered at the World Affairs Council on Oct. 14 and a symposium on the
“Christian Response to Violence” to be held at USC on Oct. 15.
**************************************************************************
8 – Kick-Off Party for Pontifical Banquet
Raises More than $1 Million for Antelias
LOS ANGELES – Hosted by the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, the Aug. 21 kick-off party at the Studio City’s Bistro Gardens for
the upcoming Oct. 9 Pontifical Banquet honoring Catholicos Aram I welcomed
more than 150 guests and supporters who pledged more than $1 million to the
Cilician Catholicosate, Antelias Seminary and the Prelacy. Over 1,000
guests are expected to attend the banquet at the Universal Hilton Hotel.
The official program of the evening began with Banquet Committee Co-Chairs
Shant Haytayan and Peklar Pilavjian welcoming the guests.
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian thanked all the donors for their
continuous support to the Catholicosate, the Seminary and Prelacy, and
expressed special appreciation to the event sponsors Mr. & Mrs. John and
Asdghig Bedrosian for their generous donation. Other major donors include
Mrs. Tina Carolan and her son Richard, Mrs. Ashkhen Pilavjian and family,
Mr. & Mrs. Krikor and Kohar Sulahian and their son Mr.& Mrs. Dickran and
Peggy Sulahian, Mr. & Mrs. Varant and Houry Melkonian, Mr. & Mrs. Tony &
Eileen Keosseyan, Mr. & Mrs. Ralph and Savey Tufenkian, and Mr. & Mrs.
Garbis and Maida Bezjian.
By the conclusion of the evening, it was clear that more than a thousand
Armenians would attend
the event. Also numerous donations were announced summing up a total of
over a million dollars.
“The Western Prelacy is dedicated to the community as it works diligently
to revitalize the physical, economic, cultural, spiritual, and educational
conditions of its churches and schools,” said Archbishop Mardirossian.
“The Western Prelacy, in close association with the Catholicosate and the
Seminary, has and will continue to make a substantial impact on expanding
its reach to the Armenian American community as long as it has supporters
and believers as benevolent and dedicated as evidenced at this showcase
kick-off celebration.”
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