Author: Dabaghian Diana

$25,000 reward offered for Freeway killer
By Jason Kandel, Staff Writer

San Gabriel Valley Tribune
May 27, 2003

Thursday, May 27, 2004 – NORTH HOLLYWOOD – Officials today posted a
$25,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest
and conviction of the killer of Garen Ketikyan, 20, who was shot in
March as he and a friend were driving on the Hollywood (170) Freeway.

The family of Ketikyan, who had been working full-time at a supermarket
while studying business at Valley College before he was killed March 8,
hopes the money will encourage witnesses to come forward.

“We want to find the people who did it,” said the victim’s older
brother, Harut Ketikyan, 24, a Los Angeles County probation
officer. “The best thing for (the suspects) is to turn themselves
in. They killed the wrong person. He was a good kid. The pain is
still there.”

Someone in a white Ford Mustang fired a gun at him as he and a friend
just after midnight March 8 as he drove his 1998 Mercury Marquis
north on the freeway near Sherman Way. His passenger, whose name was
not released for his safety, was uninjured.

The suspect, who police believe was in the passenger seat of the
Mustang, is described as a bald Armenian man, 20 to 25, with a muscular
build. The Mustang had low-profile chrome rims, and Xenon headlights
that give off a blue tint.

Police were investigating whether an earlier confrontation might have
triggered the death. About 15 minutes before he was killed, Ketikyan
and his passenger were stopped at a traffic signal at Coldwater
Canyon Avenue and Victory Boulevard, and beeped their horn at two
motorcyclists who didn’t move when the light turned green.

The men got off the bikes, removed their helmets and began walking
toward the Mercury in a threatening manner, but then the confrontation
ended without incident and everyone drove away.

About 15 minutes later, Ketikyan was on the freeway when a white
Mustang, with chrome wheels and a new-car registration pulled alongside
and someone inside fired 10 to 15 rounds, Coffey said. Ketikyan was
struck in the head and died at the scene.

The passenger later told detectives he believed the men in the Mustang
were the motorcyclists who had accosted them earlier.

Ketikyan moved with his family from Armenia in 1991. He worked at Jon’s
Market in West Hollywood while studying business at Valley College.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Coffey at the
LAPD’s North Hollywood station, (818) 623-4075. On weekends and during
nonbusiness, contact the 24-hour toll-free number at the Detective
Information Desk, at (877) LAWFULL, (877) 529-3855.

—

Jason Kandel, (818) 713-3664 [email protected]

Armenian ruling coalition calls for dialogue with opposition

Yerkir web site, Yerevan
25 May 04

on 25 May headlined “Ruling coalition again calls for dialogue”

25 May: The ruling coalition issued a statement on Tuesday [25 May]
calling on the opposition to truly engage in a dialogue. The following
is the text of the statement.

The political coalition’s proposal to settle the existing issues
through a political accord is in fact being rejected by the National
Unity Party and the Justice bloc. Unfortunately, the opposition forces
did not take the constructive path, which was a real opportunity to
emerge jointly from the present internal political tension.

Adopting a policy of holding protest rallies instead of engaging
in a dialogue, they effectively did not adhere to the Council
of Europe’s urgings to settle issues by political means without
preconditions. This confirms that the opposition is probably not
sincere in either preserving the country’s image and stability or in
its statements to solve the problems by civilized methods.

Though the opposition, through its statements made jointly with
other parliamentary forces, emphasized the need to create a new
political situation in the republic, it, however, fails to take
proper steps. The situation in the country can change not only due
to the authorities’ readiness but also provided that the opposition
escalating the confrontation changes its stance.

Nevertheless, the political coalition, as the force executing the power
in the country, is determined to settle the problems and issues that
the people are concerned with through implementation of the Council
of Europe’s recommendations and the country’s commitments before
the Council.

The political coalition believes the possibility for a further
dialogue still exists, and expects that the opposition will, in a
responsible way, participate in the process of settling the current
problems jointly.

Lagging schools share cash
Grants for before- and after-school programs
By Lisa M. Sodders, Staff Writer

Los Angeles Daily News
May 26 2004

Forty-seven low-performing schools in Los Angeles Unified —
including just four in the San Fernando Valley — will share $27
million in federal grants awarded to California schools for before-
and after-school programs, officials said Tuesday.

The federal grants were awarded by the State Department of Education
under the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which
seeks to establish or expand community learning centers for students
at low-achieving or high-poverty schools.

“I’m thrilled,” said Joanna Kunes, principal at Madison Middle School
in North Hollywood, one of the schools selected for the grant. “This
is so welcome in this climate of budget-reductions. It couldn’t come
at a better time.”

The other three Valley schools were: Haddon, Sharp Avenue and Bertrand
elementary schools.

LAUSD will receive about $6.2 million from the grant, said John
Liechty, associate superintendent for the LAUSD’s Beyond the Bell
branch, which handles after-school enrichment programs.

Madison, a 2,200-student school, is 70 percent Hispanic and 20 percent
Armenian, and has a 300-student health and medical careers magnet
program, Kunes said. About half of the students are English-language
learners and about 93 percent qualify for free and reduced lunches.

Kunes has not been told how much Madison will receive, but she said
the grant money will be used to support a variety of mentoring and
enrichment programs, including computer labs and art classes.

The money will also go toward tutoring to help students meet the
state’s math, science and reading requirements, the education
department said in a statement.

Most of the schools that received the grants are considered Program
Improvement Schools under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, said
Kevin Brown, manager of the after-school partnership office in the
California Department of Education.

Program Improvement Schools are those that have not met their student
achievement goals for the past two consecutive years.

“Local law enforcement and the FBI strongly support after-school
programs because they help to reduce dropout rates and time spent in
unhealthy behaviors such as drug use and gang activity,” U.S. Sen.
Barbara Boxer (D-California), author of the federal law providing
funding for after-school programs, said in the statement released by
the education department.

CYPRUS CAN BE “BRIDGE” BETWEEN EU AND NEIGHBOURS – SPEAKER

Cyprus News Agency
20 May 04

Nicosia, 20 May: Cyprus can act as the bridge between the European
Union and its neighbours, including the Republic of Armenia, agreed
both Cyprus House President Dhimitris Khristofias and Armenian Foreign
Affairs Minister Vardan Oskanyan.

Speaking after their meeting, Khristofias said they discussed the
latest developments in the Cyprus problem as well as prospects of
enhanced bilateral cooperation.

“Friendly relations, development of economic and cultural exchanges,
when accompanied by practical steps, become more solid. I wish to see
the soonest possible such results so as our cooperation and friendship
can be further strengthened,” said Khristofias.

He said Oskanyan conveyed to him a message from his Armenian
counterpart and said that he would visit Armenia soon.

Oskanyan thanked Khristofias for the meeting, saying it was short but
very constructive, during which they outlined their vision as to how
they saw the future of bilateral relations.

“In future, we will focus on economic cooperation. There are no
political differences between our two countries. Just the opposite,
I think we have a lot in common in our vision and approaches to the
resolution of conflicts and regional peace and stability so we will
continue to work together in international organizations to advance our
common causes and continue to provide support to each other”, he said.

He said he looked forward to the visit by the House president to
Armenia, noting that the president of the National Assembly had
already visited Cyprus.

Karabakh cannot be part of Baku says EU rapporteur

525 NEWSPAPER, Azerbaijan
May 14 2004

Pier Garton, the European Union’s (EU) rapporteur on the South
Caucasus, said, “Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be subordinated to Baku”
during his visit to Yerevan.

The diplomat believes that firstly the conflicting sides should have
a desire to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.

“[The conflict] can be solved if the peace continues, borders are
opened and people are not discriminated because of their citizenship,”
Garton said.

He drew parallels with Europe, saying that the issue of citizenship
is dwarfed when borders are open.

“I understand that Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be subordinated to Baku
and if Karabakh can provide itself with food and manage to live
independently, it is not important for it to officially be a part of
Azerbaijan or Armenia.”

Foreign ministers meeting yields no results
by Zulfugar Agayev

Baku Sun, Azerbaijan
May 14 2004

BAKU — Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov’s meeting
with his Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanian in Strasbourg has
yielded no result as the Armenian side rejected a suggestion to
release Azerbaijan’s seven occupied districts in return for opening
communication lines between the two countries, ANS reported on
Thursday.

The 12-13 May meeting was also attended by co-chairs of the Minsk
group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE). The Armenian foreign minister Oskanian told Azerbaijani
reporters that the idea about Armenia’s releasing seven occupied
districts is “absurd and meaningless.”

Azerbaijan’s Mammadyarov had said on his way to the meeting that his
government would not support peace talks if they fail to give real
results. A cease-fire agreement reached between Baku and Yerevan is
frequently violated.

No need in new deals on truce in Nagorno Karabakh – Aliyev

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 13 2004

NAKHICHEVAN (Azerbaijan), May 13 (Itar-Tass) – Azerbaijani President
Ilkham Aliyev believes “there is no need in the signing of new
documents on the maintaining of truce in the zone of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict”.

President Aliyev told reporters that the truce, introduced in the
mostly Armenian populated Azerbaijani enclave on May 12, 1994,
“continues and is observed by the sides”.

Speaking at a parliamentary session in the southwestern autonomous
republic of Nakhichevan, Aliyev expressed hope that the sides in the
conflict will reach a peaceful agreement, based on the principles of
“justice and international law”.

He also stressed that Azerbaijan “sticks to several principles”
in the solution of the Karabakh conflict, “and will never renounce
them”. “Territorial integrity must be restored, and refugees must
get back to their homes,” Aliyev stressed.

“We can conduct negotiations basing on those principles, but
no peaceful agreement is possible outside their framework,” the
Azerbaijani president emphasized.

23 MILLION EUROS NEEDED FOR UPGRADING ABOVIAN GAS STOREHOUSE

ArmenPress
May 13 2004

YEREVAN, MAY 13, ARMENPRESS: A 23 million euros worth project for
upgrading an underground natural gas storehouse in the town of Abovian,
some 20 off the capital Yerevan, developed by HayRusGazArd company,
the sole supplier of Russian gas to Armenia, was praised highly
by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and
participants of a round table, held on the sidelines of a ministerial
meeting of INOGATE program.

Edward Nersisian, head of HayRusGazArd’s department for external
relations, told Armenpress the underground storehouse is of key
importance for Armenia in terms of its safe gas supply and energy
independence and “is no less important than the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline the construction of which is supposed to start later this
year.

The upgraded storehouse will be able to store some 200 million cubic
meters of gas, while today it can contain only 80 million. In case
of securing the necessary funds the upgrading will be over in 2-3
years. Nersisian said a mobile station for quick repair of breaks
on the pipeline is expected to come to Armenia as part of INOGATE’s
2004 program.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS TRY TO SETTLE POLITICAL CRISIS

RIA Novosti, Russia
May 11 2004

YEREVAN, May 11 (RIA Novosti) – On the initiative of the chairman of
the National Assembly of Armenia (parliament), Artur Bagdasaryan,
on Monday evening another round of political consultations between
the leaders and representatives of the parliamentary factions and
deputies’ groups will be held to settle the tense internal political
situation in the country.

The parliament’s public relations department told RIA Novosti on
Tuesday that after the consultations, Artur Bagdasaryan, the speaker
of parliament, said that the first positive results had been achieved:
the sides had come to an agreement on the beginning of a political
dialogue. In connection with this, on May 13, representatives of the
parliamentary forces will form an appropriate agenda for the coming
negotiations.

The speaker said that he hoped, “the forces represented in the
parliament will do everything possible to create a new political
situation and that through a political dialogue will be able to solve
the complicated problems.”

Representatives of six factions took part in the consultations: the
Republican Party, the Orinats Erkir Party, the Dashnaktsutyun Party,
the Justice Bloc, the National Unity Party, the Labor Party and the
People’s Deputy parliamentary faction.

The opposition factions of the Justice Bloc and the National Unity
Party have been boycotting the plenary sessions of the Armenian
National Assembly since February 3, and demanding that amendments and
additions to the law “On Referendum,” be included on the agenda. On
the basis of the amendments, the opposition intends to hold a vote
of confidence on President Robert Kocharyan.

Protests demanding the president’s resignation that were organized
by the opposition but not sanctioned by the authorities have been
going on in Yerevan since April 9.

However, many analysts, including Armenian analysts, are afraid that
the situation may complicate Armenian-Azerbaijan relations and result
in Azerbaijan changing its position on the Nagorny Karabakh settlement.

“The opposition has incorrectly created problems. Its aim is to
change power in the country in any way and, if necessary, even by
force,” said Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan. He advised
the opposition raise legal demands, social demands for example.

According to him, by shaking the central government, the opposition
could provoke Baku to resolute actions in Nagorny Karabakh.

Political scientists have not ruled out that that Azerbaijan could use
the political crisis in Armenia to attempt to regain Nagorno-Karabakh,
a self-proclaimed republic that was once populated primarily by
Azerbaijanis and now the majority of the population is Armenian.

Incidentally, Mr. Kocharyan is from Nagorny Karabakh, and was the
president of the unrecognized republic.

Punchlines:Ligament damage forces Harrison to postpone

The Scotsman – United Kingdom
May 08, 2004
Stephen Halliday

SCOTT Harrison has been forced to postpone his defence of the WBO
featherweight title defence against William Abelyan after sustaining
an injury in training. The Scot was scheduled to face the US-based
Armenian at the Braehead Arena on 29 May but it is now likely to go
ahead three weeks later on 19 June. Promoter Sports Network hopes to
confirm the new date within the next few days.

“Scott damaged ligaments on his left arm while doing some pull-ups in
the gym,” explained Peter Harrison, the champion’s father and
trainer. “He was supposed to start sparring but can’t throw hooks or
uppercuts at the moment because of the injury.

“It’s not a major injury but after what happened in his first fight
against Manuel Medina when he lost his title last year, Scott isn’t
going to fight unless he is 100 per cent right.”

Harrison was originally due to face Abelyan, the No1 contender for his
title, in March, only for the US-based Armenian to pull out at short
notice because of injury.

By the early hours of tomorrow morning, meanwhile, Harrison will have
a clearly defined target in his quest to become the undisputed
featherweight champion of the world when Juan Manuel Marquez places
his WBA and IBF belts on the line against Manny Pacquaio at the MGM
Grand in Las Vegas.

It is without question world boxing’s most eagerly anticipated contest
of the year so far and has required little in the way of hype from
promoter Bob Arum. Marquez, the 30-year-old Mexican who has won 42 of
his 44 professional fights, is the man with the titles but finds
himself a slight underdog against boxing’s rising star Pacquaio, the
25-year-old from the Philippines who shot to global prominence with
his stunning 11th-round stoppage defeat of Marco Antonio Barrera last
November.

A former WBC flyweight and IBF super-bantamweight world champion,
Pacquaio’s ascent of the weight divisions has seen him lose none of
his explosive punching power. His last 17 wins, in fact, have been by
knockout and he has not been in a fight which went the distance for
almost six years.

If Pacquaio’s win over Barrera proved he could successfully compete at
featherweight and also earned him the division’s No1 rating from the
respected Independent World Boxing Rankings, he perhaps faces a more
searching examination from Marquez tonight.

A bona fide featherweight for the whole of his 11-year career so far,
the man from Mexico City lost a controversial points decision to
American Freddie Norwood in Las Vegas four years ago for the WBA
title. Avoided by Naseem Hamed, Marquez had to wait until February
last year for his second shot at a world title and left no room for
doubt with an outstanding seventh-round stoppage of compatriot Manuel
Medina for the IBF belt.

Last November, Marquez unified the IBF and WBA titles with a bizarre
seventh-round win over a petrified Derrick Gainer and is, with some
justification, miffed at receiving less recognition for his
achievements than Pacquaio.

“Last year was a great year for me, I worked hard to win two titles,”
said Marquez. “It is impossible for me to leave these titles
here. Pacquaio is a good fighter but he already talks about fighting
people like [Erik] Morales after me. Anything else I need to say about
this will be said on Saturday night with my two hands.”

British fans can catch the fight at 9am tomorrow morning on Sky Sports
2 and I believe they will see Marquez upset the odds and earn the
right to be called the best featherweight in the world.

AUDLEY Harrison is back in action tonight, making the first defence of
his WBF heavyweight title against former British champion Julius
Francis in Bristol.

While the giant Londoner should have few problems in racking up a 16th
straight win as a professional, Scottish interest in the BBC 2
televised bill centres on New Cumnock super-featherweight Andrew
Ferrans.

The 23-year-old will earn the biggest purse of his career when he
challenges WBF super-featherweight champion Carl Johanneson, son of
former Leeds United footballer Albert Johanneson, in the chief
supporting contest.