Author: Chilingarian Babken

ARMENIAN DELEGATION VISITED THE PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT

Macedonian Press Agency
June 5 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 Parliam ent 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 Presi dent.

OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA
122 C Street, NW, Suite 360, Washington, D.C. 20001
Tel: (202) 347-5166
Fax: (202) 347-5168
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:

ARTSAKH NEWSLETTER
Vol. 6, no. 2
February – May 2004

The ARTSAKH NEWSLETTER is a publication of the NKR Office in Washington,
D.C., the official representation of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the
United States.

In this issue…
1. LIBERATION OF SHUSHI, VICTORY AND NKR ARMY DAY MARKED IN ARTSAKH
2. PRESIDENT GHOUKASIAN’S MAY 9 MESSAGE
3. NAGORNO KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS
4. NK ECONOMY CONTINUES TO GROW
5. RESTORATION OF SHUSHI IS OF PAN-ARMENIAN IMPORTANCE
6. CHESS TOURNAMENT IN STEPANAKERT

1. LIBERATION OF SHUSHI, VICTORY AND NKR DEFENSE ARMY DAY MARKED IN ARTSAKH

May 9 marks a triple holiday in Nagorno Karabakh – Liberation of Shushi,
establishment of the Defense Army and the victory of the Allies in the
Second World War. Public celebrations and sport competitions took place
throughout Nagorno Karabakh, drawing large crowds of people.

On May 8, an official delegation from Armenia, headed by President Robert
Kocharian, arrived in Stepanakert to take part in the festivities. The
following morning, the Armenian delegation joined President Arkady
Ghoukasian and other senior officials in a wreath laying ceremony at the
monuments of the legendary Artsakh Liberation War hero Ashot “Bekor”
Ghoulian and Marshal of the Soviet Union Hovhannes Baghramian. The group
also visited the Memorial Complex to pay tribute to the soldiers killed
during the Artsakh War and Second World War.

The dignitaries visited Shushi, stopping on the way at the monument to the
first tank that led the way to Shushi’s liberation in 1992, and laid flowers
at the monument to the late Prime Minister of Armenia and Artsakh Hero,
Vazgen Sargsian.

That night, an open-air concert was held in Stepanakert with a special
performance by the units of the Defense Army. Popular singers and
performers from Armenia and Artsakh entertained a crowd of several thousand
people at the central Revival Square in Stepanakert. The concert was
followed by a spectacular fireworks show.

2. NKR PRESIDENT ARKADY GHOUKASIAN’S MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF NAGORNO
KARABAKH REPUBLIC (translated from Armenian)

On May 9, in connection with the holiday, NKR President Arkady Ghoukasian
issued a message to the people of the NKR, which, in particular, reads:

May 9 is a great holiday for our country. This day has always been dear to
our nation. Not very long ago, on May 9 we celebrated the victory of our
common Motherland against fascist Germany in the Great Patriotic War, a war
where every second soldier from Artsakh was killed. However, 12 years ago
May 9 acquired a special meaning for us, becoming distinctly significant for
the Armenians of Artsakh. On this day Shushi was liberated and again became
Armenian, as it should be. Shushi was liberated by the NKR Defense Army,
which surprised the world with its valor and military efficiency. On May 9
the Army also celebrates the day of its creation. Thanks to the successfully
conducted Shushi operation, the “Road of Life” to mother-Armenia was opened,
which saved the Artsakh people from the threat of full physical
annihilation. This is the historical importance of the liberation of Shushi.

It is very symbolic that we celebrate these three holidays on the same day.
This coincidence symbolizes the succession of generations. The glorious
military traditions of our grandfathers and fathers, who worked miracles of
courage and valor during World War II, were duly continued by the new
generation of the people of Artsakh, who obtained and defended the freedom
and independence of Artsakh in the battles against the enemy, which greatly
surpassed them in number and arm. Eternal memory to all those who perished
for the happy future of Artsakh! The duty of the living is not to let the
blood shed by them be in vain. Glory to our war veterans! The government
will continue paying great attention to their needs and problems.

The NKR Defense Army, formed in the furnace of the struggle for
independence, remains the most reliable guarantor of the security of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic and its people. Today, when Azerbaijan tries to
hinder the course of history, cherishing revanchist hopes to solve the
Karabakh problem by force, we have no right to weaken the military
construction; we must equip the army with most modern weapons, and increase
its fighting skills.

At the same time, I restate with full responsibility that the NKR Defense
Army is an army of peace. Its priority was and remains the defense of
Nagorno Karabakh and its population from external aggression. I assure you
that our army is ready to properly repulse the enemy if it dares to violate
our peaceful life and encroach upon our independence.

Dear compatriots, these May holidays coincide with another important date:
10 years ago Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia signed an agreement to
cease-fire in the area of the Karabakh conflict. At that time, Azerbaijan
had to recognize Nagorno Karabakh as a party to the conflict and signed the
armistice only due to the success of our army. And the merit that the
cease-fire regime has held belongs first of all to the strength and power of
the NKR Defense Army, which defends our motherland. That’s why our army is
one of the most efficient guarantees of maintaining the peaceful process of
the settlement of the conflict with Azerbaijan. I would like to assure you
that the NKR leadership remains committed to the peaceful settlement,
considering it to be without alternatives in the solution of the Nagorno
Karabakh problem.

My congratulations to you on the Day of our common Victory, dear people of
Artsakh! I wish all of us peace, prosperity and happiness!”

3. NAGORNO KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

On April 28 Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Robert Kocharian and Ilham
Aliyev met for the second time in recent months in an attempt to revive
negotiations on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Both presidents characterized
the meeting that took place on the sidelines of the European Economic Forum
in Warsaw, as ‘very constructive’ and agreed to continue the dialogue. The
French, Russian and US Co-Chairmen of the Organization of Security and
Cooperation of Europe’s (OSCE) Minsk Group joined the first part of the
meeting, leaving the leaders to negotiate one-on-one for the remainder of
the talks.

The newly appointed U.S. Co-Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann,
who replaced Rudolf Perina, also characterized the meetings as very useful.
On his visit to Armenia in early May, Mann met Armenian and NKR leaders and
voiced the U.S. government’s support for continuing the peace process within
the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, saying that the peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was in the national interests of the United
States. He also said that he intended to visit Stepanakert during his next
visit to the region.

In related news, on February 23 the Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Nagorno Karabakh Terry Davis visited
Stepanakert for the first time with a fact-finding mission. He met Nagorno
Karabakh President Arkady Ghoukasian, the National Assembly Chairman Oleg
Yesayan and other senior government officials. On March 17 President
Ghoukasian met with an OSCE delegation headed by the organization’s
Chairman-in-Office, Bulgarian Foreign Affairs Minister Solomon Passy. The
president underlined the necessity of NKR’s participation in the negotiation
process and called on Passy to create conditions for direct talks between
Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan. For his part, Passy pointed out the
necessity of restarting negotiations among the involved parties and also
noted that as the current Chairman of OSCE he will make every effort to
achieve it.

4. NAGORNO KARABAKH’S GDP GREW 20% in 2003

At a recent cabinet meeting NKR Prime Minister Anoushavan Danielian
announced that the real gross domestic product (GDP) growth reached 20
percent, while the exports amounted to $14 million. He said that the growth
was due to the government’s decision to attract investors with significant
tax incentives, market liberalization and elimination of monopolies. Since
its introduction in 2000, the policy has had a great impact on the level of
foreign investments and on the state of economy as a whole. Businessmen
from Armenia, Australia, Great Britain, Iran, Lebanon, Monaco, Russia,
Switzerland, United States have already invested in NK’ s economy, bringing
in around $40 million. The investments of Karabakh Telecom company
(Lebanon), for example, have already reached $10 million, while the tourism
industry is being developed by Australian, Iranian and American investors.

Foreign investments impact positively on the development of Karabakh’s
industry. As a result, in 2000, industrial growth amounted to 17 %, in 2001
it reached 22 %, in 2002 – 36 %, and in 2003 – 44 %. Danielian mentioned
the Drmbon copper and gold mines as well as Martuni and Karmir Shuka wine
distilleries as examples of successful businesses. Currently, about 18
business proposals, mainly in the energy sector, are awaiting investments.
The Prime Minister hopes that in the near future NKR will be able to export
energy.

According to the National Statistics Service, a similar level of economic
growth was registered in the first quarter of this year. In January-March
2004, the volume of the gross domestic product (GDP) made 6.1 billion drams
($11m, $1 = 550 drams) having grown by 23%.

Nagorno Karabakh’s industrial output reached 3.8 billion drams ($6.9m) in
the same period, having increased by almost 70% as compared with 2003. The
volumes of realized production made 3.2 billion drams ($5.8m), and the
volume of production of consumer goods made 1.4 billion ($2.5m) drams
instead of 1 billion ($1.8m) last year.

The volume of agricultural production made 1.4 billion drams ($2.5m) in the
same period with an 8% increase over 2003. The average salary is 36,170
drams ($66), having increased by 14% compared with the last year’s average.
In January-March 2004, the volume of foreign trade turnover made 14.7
billion drams ($26.8m), having increased by 44% compared to the same period
of last year.

5. NKR PM: RESTORATION OF SHUSHI IS OF PAN-ARMENIAN IMPORTANCE

Given Shushi’s historical and cultural value, the restoration and
repopulation of the town must become a priority for Armenians around the
world. NKR Prime Minister Anoushavan Danielian proposed to organize a
Pan-Armenian conference with the aim of turning Shushi into a cultural and
tourist center of the South Caucasus – a status the town enjoyed until early
1900s.

Shushi was significantly damaged during the Karabakh war in 1991-1994.
Taking advantage of its commanding position over Stepanakert, the capital of
Nagorno Karabakh, after expelling its Armenian population, Azeris turned
Shushi into a launching pad for artillery attacks. Karabakh Armenian forces
reclaimed control over Shushi in May 1992.

Prime Minister Danielian says, if given a priority, Shushi can be restored
within 5 years.

6. KARABAKH HOSTS CHESS TOURNAMENT (By Emil Sanamian, AAA)

A first major international sporting event concluded this week in
Stepanakert amid largely unsuccessful efforts by Azerbaijan to undermine it.
The Tigran Petrosian memorial tournament brought together some of the
strongest chess players from Armenia, Latvia, Georgia, Iran, Poland, Russia
and Switzerland. Petrosian, an Armenia native, was the world champion for
much of the 1960s, before being defeated by Boris Spassky. Spassky, now a
French national and retired from the game, was the guest of honor at the
Stepanakert tournament.

Chairman of the International Chess Federation, FIDE, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
sent a letter welcoming the competition as contributing to the ‘unique
Armenian chess culture.’ One of the world’s strongest chess players, Garry
Kasparov, welcomed the selection of Stepanakert as the site for the
tournament as another confirmation that Karabakh has overcome the difficult
post-war legacy. Kasparov, whose mother is an ethnic Armenian, was forced to
flee anti-Armenian violence in his native Baku in 1990.

The Azerbaijani government put pressure on chess federations of
participating nationals to recall their players and judges, claiming that
their participation was ‘illegal.’ Two players, a Georgian and Iranian were
forced to withdraw towards the end of the tournament, which Spassky
described as a ‘real chess celebration.’

In the end, Armenia’s Karen Asriyan narrowly won the hard-fought series with
six out of nine possible points. Bartlomiej Macieja of Poland was a close
second with 5.5 points and Gabriel Sargsian of Armenia was third with 5
points.

* * *

The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is based in
Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia and the public
representing the official policies and interests of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic.

This material is distributed by the office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
in the USA on behalf of the government of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
The office is registered with the U.S. government under the Foreign Agent
Registration Act. Additional information is available at the Department of
Justice, Washington, D.C.

International Journalist’s Network
May 28 2004

Building Multimedia News
Jun 01, 2004 – Jun 03, 2004

Workshop

In Yerevan, Armenia. Organized by the Caucasus Media Institute
(CMI) for Armenian journalists. Participants will learn
how to tell news stories on the Internet by combining text,
photographs and animation. Participants also will learn how to
use computer technologies to improve their online reporting. Other
sessions will focus on basic news reporting and story-telling
techniques. The participants receive certificates upon completion
of the course. Applications (in Armenian) are available at
Interested
participants should also include a letter of support from
their editor-in-chief. All the materials should be sent to Seda
Muradyan, CMI program officer at media@[email protected]. For
more information, call (00374-1) 540631, (00374-1) 540632, or visit

Former FM accuses Armenia of delaying talks

Azer News, Azerbaijan
May 27 2004

A roundtable, “Upper Garabagh: from deadlock to progress, from
ceasefire to peace”, started in Moscow on Tuesday. Former Foreign
Minister Tofig Zulfugarov said that Baku sees no alternative to the
stage-by-stage settlement of the Upper Garabagh conflict.

He criticized Armenia’s position in the peace talks and accused Yerevan
of trying to prolong the negotiations. Armenian political analyst
Migranian suggested that the experience of the Turkish-Armenian truce
commission (which closed earlier this year) should be considered in the
course of peace talks. He said the Upper Garabagh conflict should be
considered a part of the long-lasting Turkish-Armenian confrontation.

Migranian added that the deadlock in the peace talks was caused by
unacceptable terms put forward by both parties. Former co-chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group, Vladimir Kazimirov agreed with him and added
that the demands of neither party will be met in the next ten years.

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected] Website;

Bishop Galstanian meets the Mayor of Vancouver

On May 25, Bishop Galstanyan the Primate of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of Canada met with the Mayor of Vancouver, Mr. Larry Campbell
in Vancouver’s City Hall.

Mr. Campbell has had a remarkable career in public service. First as
an RCMP officer, then as the city’s Chief Coroner. The popular CBC
TV show, Da Vinci’s Inquest is loosely based on that time in his life.

The Mayor recalled the Armenian classmates he befriended during his
youth in Brantford, Ontario. His Grace and the Mayor also had a frank
discussion on the innovative yet controversial approaches the city
has taken to combat Vancouver East Side’s drug abuse problems.

Bishop Galstanian was accompanied by Fr. Keghart Garabedian, Pastor
of St. Vartan Armenian Church, Fr Hairig Hovhannessian, guest priest
from the Diocese, Parish Council member Mr. Arto Tavoukchian and
community member Ms. Rosin Tokatlian.

The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts. The Mayor stating that
there should be more Armenians in Vancouver, jokingly offering anyone
from Montreal and Toronto accommodations if they chose to move to
his beautiful city.

Bishop Bagrat Galstanian in Vancouver

On Friday, May 21 2004 His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian arrived
in Vancouver, British Columbia where the 21st Diocesan Annual Assembly
will be held on the weekend of May 28-30.

This Assembly is of particular significance since it marks the 20th
anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese. The Pontifical Letter
of Blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians,
will be read in the first session of the Assembly as well as the
Words of Greeting of Premier of British Columbia, Honorable Gordon
Campbell and the Mayor of Vancouver Larry Campbell. The second session
of the Assembly will deliberate on re-organizational issues within
the Diocese and the third session will discuss new projects in Canada
and in Armenia.

On the 22nd of May, 2004 Bishop Galstanian met with representatives
of Vancouver Armenian community. During the cordial meeting,
discussions were focused on the future of St. Vartan Armenian
Church, the reorganization of the Vancouver Armenian community and
strengthening of relations between the Parish of Saint Vartan Armenian
Church and the Diocese of Canada. His Eminence expressed his joy and
praised the members of Vancouver Armenian community whose efforts and
contributions are aimed at restructuring a new and dynamic Armenian
Community in Vancouver.

We are delighted to announce that during the gathering, community
members and families responded positively to the appeal of His Eminence
and made generous donations that amount to 52.000 (fifty two thousand
Canadian dollars) to be allocated towards closing of the mortgage
of Saint Vartan Armenian Church. This is the first phase of a plan
designed by His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian to reorganize the
Vancouver Armenian community. A similar meeting is scheduled to be
held on the 19th of June, 2004.

The 30th of May 2004 will mark the first anniversary of the election
of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian. Since his election as
Primate Bishop Galstanian has given special attention to spiritual
revival and to reorganization of the Diocesan structures towards the
strengthening of Parishes all across Canada.

DIVAN OF THE DIOCESE

HIGHWAY OF OPPORTUNITY

Business Line
May 24, 2004

LIKE THE US and Europe, Asia has decided to have its own version of
a transcontinental freeway going from Tokyo to Istanbul. Running
through the Koreas, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand,
Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Armenia and
several Central Asian countries, the 140,000-km Asia Highway Network,
including a trunk route through St. Petersburg to Russia’s border
with Finland, besides bringing people together, will open up economic
opportunities at their doorstep in the shape of truck stops, hotels,
motels and restaurants and gift shops could be built along the planned
routes. The potential is enormous.

The agreement on the Asia Highway, signed in Shanghai by the
participating nations, is significant for other reasons also. It is
UNESCAP’s first inter-government agreement since the organisation was
set up 57 years ago. Also, many landlocked countries, such as Laos,
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Bhutan, and Kyrghyzstan,
hope to get access to the sea by joining the highway network.

The proposed network, apparently modelled after the ancient Silk
Route that wended its way from Persia to China, will extend even
further, and opens up possibilities of a globalised transportation
system with coordinated ferry and rail connections. For example,
island nations like Sri Lanka and the Philippines will have ferry
connections. However, signing the agreement does not mean totally
‘free’ borders. A series of bilateral and multilateral negotiations
will be needed to sort out the border issues. It must be remembered
that the proposal for such a road network has been around since 1959
and only now have the governments of the region got together to sign
an agreement. ESCAP was unable to push through the project because
of various geo-political hurdles. The proposed highway network will
pass through some of the most difficult terrains – vast deserts,
high mountains, dense forests, and some virtually uncharted areas of
Central Asia.

The preliminary rounds of discussion reveal that the existing road
conditions vary substantially from country to country depending on
their level of development (or backwardness). The road construction
work would have to be standardised and road signs need to be in both
English and local languages and such issues as funding, quarantine,
auto safety standards, environment impact, road maintenance and
a proper road pricing mechanism (in view of the projection of
probable exhaustion of fossil fuel in next half a century or so)
would need to be addressed. All this calls for detailed planning and
meticulous execution with application of modern technology and with
participation of a large number of countries with varying levels of
progress. Also, the participating nations would need to look at the
road’s potential for negatives such as flesh trade, and arms and drug
smuggling. Certainly, a rough road ahead.

SOCIAL CARDS WILL PROTECT THE HUMAN RIGHTS

A1 Plus | 17:53:15 | 24-05-2004 | Social | author: Mher Arshakyan |

Q: Recently a few citizens have applied to the Armenian Ombudsman
complaining of the fact they are imposed to obtain social cards. Can
people refuse the social cards within their rights?

A: What does it mean to defend oneself from a social card? We don’t
consider imposing the social cards as infringement of rights since
there is a Law obliging everyone. The Law provides that implementation
of the right of social insurance must be conditioned by introduction of
the system, so it is a clause provided by Law and everyone must obey
it. People say their rights are violated at the aspect of religious
convictions. The issue was discussed and settled in the newly-approved
Law. The Law makes provision that a social card, which is a document
is allowed to citizens and the social card or the document has a
number. One can say under the same logic he doesn’t want to have a
passport since it violates his rights. But we all know a passport is
a document, which is given to citizens and applied for implementation
of citizens’ rights in cases and order provided by Legislation.

Q: How do you explain the fact that a citizen can’t separate a social
card from the religious context?

A: As a Christian and a believer of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
a citizen must accept the statement of Armenian Apostolic Church,
under which the religious problems were settled in the new Law on
social cards. In other words, there isn’t a religious problem any more.

Q: Is the fact that social cards are imposed on citizens within the
human rights?

A: The right is not one-sided. If a citizen produces a fact on
infringement of his rights, he must realize that the rights of others,
too, are protected by Constitution, norms and clauses. A system that
must solve problems is introduced.

Q: Which are those problems?

A: We say that one person must not receive a pension from 4 places
and one family must not draw pension from 5. Through applying the
system of social cards we provide the right of others to receive
pensions and grants. If a person receives a pension from many places,
naturally, he deprives others of the chance to enjoy pensions. So,
we solve the problem by applying the system. Some people say they
don’t want to lose the chance to draw grants from a few places. We
oppose it because others needy must get it, too. If someone refuses
to pay taxes, a mechanism is applied to make him pay and he pays. So,
the mechanism for social cards is being introduced to control problems.

Revealed: the peanut tycoon who owns Livingstone’s City Hall
by John Waples and Dan Box

Sunday Times (London)
May 23, 2004, Sunday

A SECRETIVE Swiss-based businessman has emerged as the mystery owner
of City Hall, the headquarters of London’s Mayor, Ken Livingstone.

After months of anonymity which have led to questions being asked in
the House of Commons, The Sunday Times can reveal that the offices
are owned by London Bridge Holdings, a Bahamas-based company.

The firm’s principal shareholder has been identified as Dikran
Izmirlian, 77, who made his fortune by creating a near-monopoly on
the world’s peanut market.

The news is likely to come as a surprise to Livingstone, who has
shown no evidence of knowing who controls the company with which he
has agreed a 25-year lease for his office.

Izmirlian, who is of Armenian descent, is chairman and chief executive
of Alimenta, a company that has built up a big interest in the Gambian
peanut, or groundnut, market.

By establishing effective control of the processing and export of
groundnuts, Alimenta soon became vital to the country where 70%
of the population rely on the annual harvest for their livelihood.

In 1999, Gambia’s government accused Alimenta of money laundering
and seized processing plants belonging to the company.

Alimenta successfully sued Gambia in international courts and, in 2001,
the Gambian government agreed to pay $ 11.4m (£6.37m) in compensation,
money that was partly met using grants from the EU.

Little is known about Mr Izmirlian, who has chosen not to make public
his involvement in the City Hall site.

He is registered as the director of Alimenta UK Ltd, a shell company
with total assets of £100 and no record of having traded in this
country. Its registered address turns out to be that of Lovells,
a London law firm.

Documents lodged with Companies House, however, show that Izmirlian
now lives in Switzerland and has Swiss nationality.

His son, Sarkis Izmirlian, is registered as living in Lyford Cay,
an exclusive residential enclave on Paradise Island in the Bahamas,
where he also claims nationality.

Despite holding a Swiss passport, Dikran Izmirlian has roots in
Armenia. In 1994 he established the Izmirlian Foundation in Armenia’s
capital, Yerevan, to support education and business in the country.

The foundation provides loans of up to $500,000 to encourage local
enterprises.

Other philanthropic work involves funding construction work at the
city’s university library, military academy and religious institutions.

The extent of Izmirlian’s interests in commercial property development
in this country or abroad are unknown.

What is known is that London Bridge Holdings owns the entire 13-acre
site on which City Hall is situated. The development also includes
the European headquarters of Ernst & Young and the Hewitt, Bacon and
Woodrow consultancy.

The site is the second- largest commercial development in London and
lies on the city’s south bank, between Tower Bridge and London Bridge.

Originally bankrolled by the German Depfa bank and CIT Group, London
Bridge Holdings assumed sole ownership of the site in 2002. The group
has recently completed a £460m refinancing facility underwritten by
Royal Bank of Scotland.

With this capital, it now hopes to finish development of the site.

The international law firm Norton Rose has reportedly entered into
negotiations to base its new headquarters in the development.

There are also plans for a 245-bed, four-star hotel, which has been
pre-let to the Hilton Group.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
05/21/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) ARF Aharonian Gomideh Banquet Raises $300,000 for Planned Armenian
Center in
Glendale
2) Vahan Hovhannisian Addresses Legality of Boycotting Parliament
3) Turkey to Build Military Airfield in Georgia
4) CIS Defense Chiefs Meet in Yerevan
5) Karabagh President Greets ANCA Head Hachikian
6) Random Ramblings and the Rambling Rabble Rouser Who Recites Them
7) Notes from another Place

1) ARF Aharonian Gomideh Banquet Raises $300,000 for Planned Armenian
Center in
Glendale

DR. ALBER KARAMANOUKIAN DONATES $250,000 IN MEMORY OF HIS PARENTS

GLENDALE–Based on the premise that an Armenian center is essential in nearly
all sizable Armenian-American communities, a center is usually planned for
construction, usually alongside the Armenian church, in order to fulfill the
needs of local Armenian organizations and the community at-large.
In the evening of Saturday, May 15, for that very purpose, a banquet took
place in the hall of the Glendale “Ararat” Homenetmen chapter’s new center,
organized by the area’s ARF “Aharonian” gomideh.
The event’s benefactor was Dr. Alber Karamanoukian, whose princely
quarter-million-dollar contribution will go toward the building of the
Armenian
center on the property adjoining Glendale’s St. Asdvadzadzin church. In total,
the night’s event raised some $300,000 for that worthy goal.
Banquet guests and attendees included US Representative Adam Schiff, Glendale
Mayor Bob Yousefian, Glendale City Council member Rafi Manoukian, benefactor
Alber Karamanoukian, ARF Western US Central Committee member Vahe Bozoyan,
Glendale Unified School Board President Greg Krikorian, Glendale Community
College Board of Trustees members Dr. Armine Hacopian and Ara Najarian, State
Senator Jack Scott’s representative Vahik Gourjian, Rev. Ardag Demirjian, and
past and present member of church boards of trustees, Armenian and
non-Armenian
members of the business community, and members of the Armenian community–all
told, more than 400 people.
The event’s emcee, Vahe Peroomian, in his opening remarks pointed out that
purpose of the gathering was to place the plan to build a new Armenian center
on more firm foundations. He then introduced the honored guests and officiated
over the evening’s program after dinner was served.
The first to speak was Mayor Yousefian, who said the community had
gathered to
realize a beautiful dream. He pointed out that Glendale has a population of
more than 100,000 Armenians, who need such a center for their community life.
He called on those present to be generous with their donations.
Peroomian announced that the ARF gomideh had received written congratulations
from Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, Congressman Schiff, and
State Representative Dario Frommer.
On behalf of the gomideh, Lena Bozoyan presented a plaque to Patrik
Chrakhjian
for his dedicated work on behalf of the Armenian Center project.
Next to address the attendees was Harout Manoukian, the representative of the
ARF “Aharonian” gomideh. He said that it is an honor to address the community
on such an important occasion, and especially in the center of an active
organization such as Homenetmen, because it is here that the foundations of an
Armenian Center are being laid.
Manoukian said that now, more than ever, such a densely Armenian-populated
place as Glendale needs a new haven for our youth organizations, the Armenian
Relief Society and its Saturday school, Hamazkayin with its choral and dance
groups, the Sunday school of the St. Asdvadzadzin church, and the local
chapter
of the Armenian National Committee.
“As a political organization, we have a responsibility not only to ensure
that
our rank-and-file remain vigilant and effective, but also to defend the
interests and rights of the Armenian community and carry out our civic duty
toward Glendale,” Manoukian stressed.
“Thanks to the Armenian National Committee, we have taken on leadership
responsibilities in this community and will continue to do so, through the
joint efforts of not only our members, but large numbers of supporters.”
He stressed the importance of making the Glendale-Ghapan sister city
project a
living, breathing effort that accomplishes real results and leads to more such
undertakings and the development of schools, villages, and towns in Armenia.
In the event’s biggest surprise, Manoukian then announced the night’s chief
benefactor.
“The benefactor of our Armenian Center is a person imbued with Armenia and
‘Armenianness’,” Manoukian said. “He is a skilled physician, a businessman…he
is our ‘Dr. K,’ who is beloved by all and who since the tragic earthquake in
Armenia has on every occasion participated in efforts to realize projects both
in Armenia and locally.”
Manoukian next announced the benefactor’s generous gift of $250,000, made in
memory of his parents, Krikor and Mariam Karamanoukian.
In this festive atmosphere, Cong. Schiff also spoke to the attendees,
congratulating them and wishing them continued success.
Rev. Vazken Atmajian transmitted the blessings of the Prelate, Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, and announced that the Archbishop had just been elected
by the National Representative Assembly for another four-year term as Prelate.
Speaking at the end of the official portion of the night’s ceremonies,
benefactor Alber Karamanoukian expressed gratitude toward his nation and
homeland for educating him and making possible his success, and therefore his
contribution to the Armenian Center.
He honored the memory of his parents, noting that they had bequeathed their
home to the nation, to be used as an Armenian school.
Dr. Karamanoukian called on those present, “Open wide your purse strings for
the sake of our youth, so that this center planned for our new generation may
become reality.”
On this auspicious occasion, the gomideh had issued a booklet clearly
explaining the timely purpose and essential need for an Armenian Center.

2) Vahan Hovhannisian Addresses Legality of Boycotting Parliament

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–According to National Assembly (NA) regulations,
opposition members of Armenia’s parliament or factions opposing the work of
the
body must boycott individual votes on issues rather than entire sessions,
clarified NA Vice Speaker and Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau
member Vahan Hovhannisian. Their absence is otherwise considered to be in bad
faith, explained Hovhannisian, speaking at the National Press Club.
Hovhannisian did not rule out the possibility of depriving the absent MPs of
mandates. “Of course, application of these sanctions depends on the
decision of
the NA Chairman and the entire parliament…I do not know whether the issue will
be placed on the NA’s agenda; if so, it will be done within the framework of
the law,” he said.
“The right to boycott is the right of each MP and political faction,”
stressed
Hovhannissian, “but the methods displayed by the opposition today make it
impossible to call it a parliamentary boycott because the parliamentary
opposition is struggling in the street, not in the parliament.”

3) Turkey to Build Military Airfield in Georgia

TBILISI (Russia Journal Daily)–Turkey will construct a military airfield in
the Georgian city of Marneuli, located in the eastern part of the country. The
facility, which will be equipped with day and night vision systems, will take
nearly two years for full implementation. A corresponding agreement was
achieved during an official visit of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to
Turkey.
Georgian Defense Minister Gela Bezhuashvili told Imedi television that the
sides had agreed on implementing two more projects with Turkey’s
participation.
According to the minister, Turkey will train servicemen of the Georgian
Defense
Ministry’s Kodzhori special battalion of the 11th brigade, as well as create a
military facility for special training.
As reported earlier, Turkey has already invested $6 million in upgrading a
Georgian military base in Vaziani, where Russian military men were deployed
earlier.

4) CIS Defense Chiefs Meet in Yerevan

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–Senior defense officials from the Commonwealth of
Independent
States (CIS) met in Yerevan on Friday to discuss strengthening military ties
among the twelve former Soviet republics.
According to Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov, who heads the CIS
Council
of Defense Ministers, the two-hour meeting marked “yet another positive
step to
develop military cooperation” across the former Soviet Union. “We considered
the pressing issues of improving multilateral military and military-technical
cooperation,” he told a news conference.
Ivanov said the Council made a number of “important decisions” that will lead
to the creation of a CIS peace-keeping force, the setting up of a system of
interstate military communication, and improved safety of military aircraft
flights. He said the participants also approved plans for the strengthening of
a single air defense system covering much of the Soviet Union.
It remained unclear, however, whether the arrangements will encompass all CIS
countries. Six of them, including Armenia, are part of the Russian-dominated
Collective Security Treaty (CST) organization and are bound by a formal
commitment to defend each other in the event of a military aggression. The
treaty signatories regularly hold joint military exercises and receive Russian
military supplies on privileged terms.
But the other CIS countries are more wary of close military ties with Moscow.
Some of them, including neighboring Georgia and Azerbaijan, as well as
Ukraine,
have openly expressed their desire to join NATO. Ukraine was represented at
the
meeting by its military attaché in Yerevan, while Uzbekistan sent a liaison
officer representing its military in Moscow.
Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan avoided any participation in the Yerevan meeting,
with Baku attributing its boycott to the unresolved conflict over Mountainous
Karabagh. “We don’t knock on the enemy’s door,” a spokeswoman for the Azeri
Defense Ministry was quoted as saying.

5) Karabagh President Greets ANCA Head Hachikian

STEPANAKERT–The president of Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR) Arkady
Ghukasian received Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman
Kenneth Hachikian on Friday, along with ARF Australia Central Committee
representative Berj Mamjian, and his spouse. Mountainous Karabagh ARF central
committee representative Grigori Hayrapetian also attended the meeting.
Ghukasian spoke of the value of ANCA’s efforts in advancing Armenian
issues in
the international arena, but stressed the necessity of more active Diaspora
participation in the process of gaining international recognition of MKR, and
suggested that Diaspora political organizations coordinate efforts with MKR’s
foreign affairs bodies.
Hachikian assured President Ghukasian that the ANCA, in fact, attaches great
importance to the final and complete political regulation of the Mountainous
Karabagh issue and pledged that the ANCA will continue to actively support the
protection of human rights and promote the socio-economic development of MKR.

6) Random Ramblings and the Rambling Rabble Rouser Who Recites Them

BY SKEPTIK SINIKIAN

Since I began writing this column, many readers have suggested that I digress
from my usual political commentary and address issues that affect Armenians in
the United States and at large. I’ve received recommendations to write about
the cult of materialism that pervades Armenian culture in the Diaspora, the
state of our youth, the state of our adults, and of course the ubiquitous
issue
of Armenians dating non-Armenians amongst many others. Now, I have my opinion
on these issues but I’m not sure if writing rambling articles about the
demerits or virtues of Armenians listening to Arabic and Turkish music at
Armenian functions is going to change the minds of anyone out there. I’ve
learned that most of us are opinionated creatures–myself included. And I
don’t
feel comfortable speaking about certain issues without having enough knowledge
about them. The philosopher Socrates remarked that “The only true wisdom is in
knowing you know nothing.” As such, we need to continuously ask questions to
acquire knowledge and a better understanding of society and the world we live
in. So this week, I wish to pose some questions to which perhaps some of you
may have the answers. If you do, I’d love to hear them. Let’s start off light
and leave the heavy stuff for the end.

• Why is it that every time I finish reading an issue of Asbarez, I end up
looking like I just wrestled a West Virginia coal miner? Someone told me that
the Asbarez has no more or less ink than any other newspaper, so I put it to
the test. I read four different newspapers from cover to cover to compare the
results. I suppose it’s a trade off. In none of the other newspapers I read
did I find as much news about issues that affect the Armenian community, but
after I was done my hands were covered in so much black ink that I look like
one of the chimney sweeps from Mary Poppins.

• Why is that every April 24, Armenian youth feel the urge to drape their
cars
in the tri-color flag and drive down streets playing loud Armenian music as if
they’re at a World Cup soccer match? Our parents and grandparents didn’t march
through hundreds of miles of desert sand so their descendants could act like
soccer hooligans. It seems strange that Armenian parents who are notorious for
their strictness and discipline can’t seem to keep their own kids in check on
the most solemn day in our culture.

• Why do the same Armenians that close their establishments on April 24th to
commemorate the Armenian Genocide also sell Turkish products? I also would
like
to know why some Armenians are obsessed with “made in Turkey” products. No
where else in the world outside of Turkey and other Turkic states are Turkish
products held in such high regard as in Armenian grocery stores or on Armenian
dinner tables. My favorite excuse was someone who told me that they will not
stop buying Turkish products because some of the products are manufactured by
Armenians in Turkey. They went on to explain to me that by boycotting Turkish
products they would be hurting Armenian business located in Turkey who are
just
trying to make a living and that was against their Armenian principles. I
suppose the next time I’m picking up a jar of pickled red peppers I’ll have to
keep an eye out for the label that says “Made in Turkey by Boghos Boghosian
who
has four kids and is barely making ends meet.” Ridiculous!

• Ok, one final thing that I’m confused by and maybe you can help me
understand this. Last week, Americans witnessed the horrific beheading of
young
American Nicholas Berg by a group of presumably Arabic militant Islamic
fundamentalists. Speaking on the South Lawn of the White House, President Bush
commented that “The actions of the terrorists who executed this man remind us
of the nature of the few people who want to stop the advance of freedom in
Iraq. Their intention is to shake our will. Their intention is to shake our
confidence. Yet, by their actions, they remind us of how desperately parts of
the world need free societies and peaceful societies. And we will complete our
mission. We will complete our task.” My question is the following (and I’m
going to devote an entire column to this in the coming weeks). Why is the
beheading of this one innocent person such a tragedy and the beheading of
thousands upon thousands of innocent Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks by the
Turkish authorities between 1915-1923 a debatable topic for the President?

That’s it for this week. I’m going to spend the time between now and next
week
pondering these mysteries. Hopefully, next week we’ll have some answers. Until
then, don’t stop asking questions and seeking answers.

Skeptik Sinikian does not take any responsibility if the above column
confused
anyone and apologizes for digressing from his usual rants on random topics. He
promises to behave next week and write something more sensible and less
controversial. He can be reached at [email protected].

7) Notes from Another Place

BY ALEX SARDAR

I write this week’s column from Los Angeles; ironically, I will recount an
experience I had in what seems to be a land far away, yet extremely close when
I stand in the middle of the Glendale Galleria and look around at my
compatriots–and all this not for the obvious reasons.
On a visit to Karabagh a few weekends ago, I discovered truth. This truth
came
in the form of Shoghig–a ray–and not a small one, as the name might suggest.
Shoghig was the home that four strangers visiting the monastery of Gandzasar,
in the heart of Karabagh, were looking for to make sure that the stories of
war
and peace, the stories of sacrifice and survival, and the stories of renewal
and resilience all had an ending–very American of us, if you will.
The strangers spoke to Shoghig at length, while she cooked tea and coffee,
made them a comfortable place to sit, and sent the youngest of her sons to buy
a cake. A cake that came pre-packaged with sweet chocolate icing and a bitter
taste of poverty.
And so it goes, the story of Shoghig–the happy ending that was to be.
Shoghig and her husband, along with their three sons, Hovsep, Hriar, and
Haik,
were the idealists who moved from Yerevan, a relatively comfortable life, to
this remote site with the promise of a house, some land, and a teaching job
for
Shoghig to practice her craft in German and Russian. And they took this. I
asked Shoghig why, and she said that she needed her sons to be raised in a
good
environment, and so, the American in me said, and war torn mine fields are
that? I didn’t understand.
Some facts about Shoghig’s life:
• Shoghig teaches at two schools. She crosses a forest each weekday morning
to get to a village school to teach 230 kids. She crosses that forest knowing
that wolves may be her adversaries, so she’s prepared to fight.
• Shoghig teaches then at another school a bit further. She has 15 students
at this school. She walks her two job route–a combined commute time of 1.5
hours each day.
• She has a plot of land in front of her house. The practical and naïve
Americans visiting her that day looked in vain for farming equipment–the
plow,
the shovels, and the rest. We didn’t see, so we asked. She pulled out two
sharpened rocks, and said those to be the plows–and her knees the imaginary
mules that pulled or rather pushed the plow. The small plot of land Shoghig
had
plowed on her hands and knees and it was ready for giving birth to potatoes.
• Shoghig’s eldest son was in the army. The next eldest, a brilliant
student, was ready to go, while the third son, a young and happy teenager, was
still playing football.
• She had been forced to sell her cow and its calf in the winter to pay for
outstanding obligations, so there were no animals to speak of.
So, the four strangers sat around a wooden table, a stove cooking some
home-made warmth, and ate the cake of sweet chocolate and bitter poverty, and
added a taste of cheese and bread, with berry preserves.
Shoghig didn’t ask for anything. The strangers didn’t offer anything. But,
the
strangers felt embarrassed, because Shoghig had instead given them a gift.
She had offered in her rugged hands, with her golden smile, the chance for
the
strangers to have a happy ending, a Hollywood ending, to go on their way
thinking that there was a purpose for it all. And so we did. The strangers
walked down a hill once more, got into a mini-van, quietly sobbing our
happiness–or was it our shame, or disappointment with our own failure that
Shoghig considered the happy ending. We went on to our lives, thinking that we
could help Shoghig by ordering farming equipment–desperately seeking our
happy
ending.
Yesterday, in a supermarket in Glendale, I overheard an Armenian mother and
son arguing first over the size of the cake they should buy, and then the
conversation carried into the color of the car the son had just received as a
gift–a white or black sports vehicle–and the son wasn’t sure if it was the
right color.
So, there was a reason for it all, I thought to myself, thinking of Shoghig,
her scraped knees, her chapped palms and finger tips, all accented by her big
beautiful golden smile.

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PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

«Most of the crises of the world arise from the tension between religious
beliefs and values, and human rights»

Stated His Holiness Aram I

In a brief talk with the journalists, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of
Cilicia stressed the crucial importance of inter-religious dialogue
considering it a “major priority” for all societies. He said: “Religion is
no more a private affair; it is an integral part of a community; it is a
major force in a society. Furthermore, religion is no more confined to the
spiritual spheres of a society; it embraces all aspects of society life”.
Hence, according to His Holiness, “religion must be taken seriously today”.

Considering the “Multi-faceted role” of religion as a potential source of
both conflict and progress, Catholicos Aram I warned about “the negative
repercussions of the misuse or abuse of religion”.

His Holiness Aram I believes that it is time that religions “transcend their
theological divergences and strengthen their common spiritual and moral
values which will provide for them a strong basis for common action”.

In response to a question, Catholicos Aram I called for a clear distinction
between religious beliefs and values, and human rights. He said: “Religions
have different perceptions concerning these realities and their
inter-conncectedness. For some they are in creative inter-action, for other
they are in tension; and many of the conflicts and crises of the world today
arise from this contradictions and polarizations”. According to His
Holiness, this particular area needs a deeper and critical analyses in the
context of inter-faith dialogue .

Speaking about the expectations of people from the religions, His Holiness
pointed out that “people are in search of meaning for their life they are
looking to religion for guidance and direction. Therefore, religions are
challenged to redefine and re-articulate their specific vocation in the
society, reminded Aram I.

His Holiness considers “combat terrorism” a priority area for the
collaboration among religions: “Terrorism is an evil force that must be
eradicated from our societies. Religions must work together for building the
kind of communities which are sustained by moral values as well as by
justice, peace and human dignity”, affirmed Catholicos Aram I.

As a clear indication of the growing importance of inter-religious dialogue
and collaboration, Aram I, as Moderator of the World Council of Churches
told to the reporters that the World Council of Churches will, at the end of
2004, organize a major international inter-religious conference in Geneva,
Switzerland.

These statements of His Holiness were made in the context of a
Christian-Muslim dialogue actually taking place between the Islamic Republic
of Iran and the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, in Antelias, Lebanon.

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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.