Author: Ekmekjian Janet

Iran gives Armenia 30-million-dollar loan for gas pipeline

Agence France Presse — English
September 8, 2004 Wednesday 6:06 PM GMT

YEREVAN Sept 8 — Iran has extended a 30-million-dollar
(25-million-euro) loan to Armenia to build a gas pipeline between the
two countries, Armenian President Robert Kotcharian said on Wednesday.

The loan should enable Yerevan to finance the 41 kilometres of the
141-kilometre (88-mile) pipeline that cross Armenian territory,
Kocharian told journalists after a meeting with his Iranian
counterpart, Mohammad Khatami.

The construction contract has been awarded to Iranian company Sanir.

Iran and Armenia signed a contract in May, under which Iran will
supply Armenia with a total of 36 billion cubic metres of gas over
a 20-year period, expected to start in early 2007.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 7 2004

President to leave for France September 7

Baku, September 6, AssA-Irada

President Ilham Aliyev is expected to leave for France on September 7.

On the first day of the visit, Aliyev will meet with his French
counterpart Jacques Chirac to discuss issues pertaining to bilateral
relations and peace settlement of the Upper Garabagh conflict, the
French Embassy in Baku said.

Also discussed will be investments by French companies in Azerbaijan.

On September 9, a ceremony on presenting the goodwill ambassador
title to the President’s wife Mehriban Aliyeva will be held at the
UNESCO residence in Paris.

Commenting on President Aliyev’s visit, prominent political scholar
Rasim Musabayov said that before the forthcoming talks in Astana, the
President may clarify certain details in his meeting President Chirac.

“Presidents Chirac and Putin of Russia have leverage to influence
the Armenian leadership. The use of the French President’s political
potential may appear productive to President Aliyev, although such
meetings did not yield any results in the past”, Musabayov said.*

ANOTHER POLITICAL PRISONER TO BE RELEASED BEFORE PACE SESSION

A1 Plus | 16:49:14 | 06-09-2004 | Politics |

Edgar Arakelyan, who was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in jail
this summer for hitting a policeman by empty plastic bottle during
the demonstration held on April 12 is expected to be released ahead
of the end of his term.

He has already served one-third of his term in jail. The decision is
to be made today at 16:00 in the first instance court of Nork-Marash.

Armenia gathers donor blood for Beslan hostages
By Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
September 3, 2004 Friday

YERVAN, September 3 — Armenia has appealed to the country’s blood
donors to give blood for the hostages held in the North Ossetian town
of Beslan.

The Armenian Health Ministry has announced that any person willing
to donate blood will be welcome at the Yerevan Research Institute
of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, and Armenian Public Television
has shown the address and telephone number of the Institute, where
physicians are on duty round the clock.

Ararat Gomtsian, Head of the Armenian Consulate-General in
Russia’s Southern Federal District, told ITAR-TASS by telephone
from Rostov-on-Don on Friday that he would travel to North Ossetia
on Saturday.

If need be, he intends to organize the airlifting of the victims to
Yerevan for treatment. According to preliminary data, there were five
Armenians – four children and their mother – among the hostages taken
in Beslan.

It transpired on Friday that the hostage takers were also holding an
Armenian family of three or four people.

PROTEST ACTIONS THREATENED TO BE STAGED UNLESS KLO MEMBERS SET FREE

ArmenPress
Sept 1 2004

BAKU, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: A court ruling has recently sentenced
Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) 6 members to 3-5 years
of imprisonment accusing them in violation of public order and
hooliganism. The mentioned people have over expressed themselves
in their discontent about involvement of Armenian officers in June
21 NATO military exercises in Baku. According to pro-government and
opposition forces of Azerbaijan, the ruling has been dictated by USA.
According to RFE/RL sources, a number of statements have been made
which threaten to stage actions of mass protest unless KLO members
are set free.

Azeri Great Revival party leader has addressed a message to Armenian
president which says in particular, “Mr. Kocharian, taking into
consideration the result of the trial, you can be considered the
winner of 10 year long war.”

PRESS RELEASE
Natioal Association for Armenian Studies and Research
395 Concord Ave.
Belmont, MA 02478
Phone: 617-489-1610
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web:
Contact: Marc A. Mamigonian

MT. ARARAT ASCENT TO BE SUBJECT OF ILLUSTRATED LECTURE IN PROVIDENCE

A Boston-area couple’s historic ascent to the peak of Mt. Ararat and
the history of efforts to scale the mountain will be the subject of an
illustrated lecture on Thursday evening, September 9, at 7:30 p.m., at
the Egavian Hall of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church, 70
Jefferson Street, Providence, RI. The event will be co-sponsored by
NAASR and the Armenian Historical Association of Rhode Island.

Legendary Mountain a Symbol to Armenians

In July 2003, the husband and wife team of Philip Ketchian and Elsa
Ronningstam-Ketchian undertook a pilgrimage up to the snowy peak of
Mt. Ararat, a mountain cloaked in mist and steeped in legend. Nearly
17,000 feet in height, forbidding and beautiful, it looms over the
landscape, beckoning the adventurer up its slopes.

Mt. Ararat, in Eastern Turkey just over the border with Armenia, had
been only recently reopened for climbing after being closed for many
years by the Turkish government. The couple responded to the
challenge and signed up with a British expedition to participate in
its inaugural trip up the rocky peak. Ararat occupies a special place
in world history, religion, and legend. Also known as Masis, for
Armenians everywhere it is the most important symbol of national
identity and of their ancient homeland.

In the Footsteps of Earlier Adventurers

Following in the steps of such 19th-century pioneers as Parrot, Bryce,
Lynch, and Abovian, the Ketchians surmounted the hurdles of permits,
scorching heat, and frigid windy conditions to make their way up to
the majestic summit. This lecture will provide a unique opportunity
to hear a first-hand account of a journey that most have only dreamed
of undertaking.

The couple has climbed extensively together in the United States,
Spain, Switzerland, and Armenia. They reside in Belmont,
Massachusetts. Philip Ketchian is a physicist and has written a
comprehensive series of studies of the environment in Armenia and
articles on his hikes in the Armenian mountains. Elsa
Ronningstam-Ketchian is an Associate Clinical Psychologist at McLean
Hospital and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School.

PRESS RELEASE
ARMENIAN RESEARCH CENTER, U. Michigan
Dennis R. Papazian, Ph.D.
Professor of History
Director, Armenian Research Center
The University of Michigan-Dearborn
4901 Evergreen Road
Dearborn, MI 48128-1491
O 1-313-593-5181
O Fax 1-313-593-5219
Home: 201-505-1591
Home Fax 201-746-0217

Center for Armenian Studies, Research and Publication

Associate professor or assistant professor in Armenian or Armenian
diaspora history with a strong competence in Middle Eastern history,
preferably in the history of the Arabs. The candidate must have a Ph.D.
by September 1, 2004, or strong evidence of probable award of degree
shortly thereafter. The successful candidate should demonstrate
potential for, and experience in, teaching, research and administration
as well as an ability to bring multicultural perspectives to the
instructional program. Knowledge of Armenian is necessary, and a working
knowledge of Arabic and Turkish highly desirable. Appointment effective
January 1, 2005 or September 1, 2005. Salary competitive.

The successful candidate should also have administrative experience or
potential and be prepared to assume the Directorship of the Armenian
Research Center when the current incumbent retires. Fund raising
experience is a plus. The successful candidate should provide visionary
leadership in advancing undergraduate education, developing
internationally recognized research and scholarship, develop
collaboration within and among the several academic units of the campus,
provide an advocacy for role of the Center, build productive
relationships with community institutions and residents, lead external
funding efforts, and enhance international programs and linkages.

Candidates must have the academic qualifications and achievements
consistent with an appointment to a tenured or tenure track position in
the College.

Letter of application should be accompanied by a curriculum vitae,
writing sample, an official transcript, and three to five letters of
recommendation. Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2004
and continue until the position is filled. Contact Professor Sidney
Bolkosky, Chair, Search Committee, Department of Social Sciences, the
University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI 48128-1491.

The University of Michigan is dedicated to the goal of building a
culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty, committed to teaching and
working in a multicultural environment, and it strongly encourages
applications from minorities and women. The University of
Michigan-Dearborn is an equal opportunity employer.

********************

The Armenian Research Center is supported by an endowment of $2
million, raised by the current director from the Armenian-American
community, particularly the Knights of Vartan and the Edward Mardigian
family.

It is an integral part of the University of Michigan-Dearborn (UM-D),
located in Dearborn, Michigan, a southwest suburb of Detroit. The
director is directly supported by the University and the income from
the endowment, some 5% a year, can be used for programs. Heretofore,
a portion of that money has been used for the invaluable research
assistant, Gerald E. Ottenbreit Jr., who will remain with the
Center. The rest of the funds have been used to acquire research
materials, including books, journals, microfilm, and microfiche, which
has made the collection preeminent in America. A list of its holdings
can be had by contacting Gerald Ottenbreit whose e-mail address is
above.

Funds are also used to support publications, a periodic
Scholar-in-Residence, public lectures by invited scholars, academic
research trips, receptions for the public, fundraising expenses, a
newsletter, and other educational activities including periodically
supporting Armenian language classes as needed.

The Center has a community advisory committee, and would benefit from
an academic advisory committee drawn from the campus and from other
educational institutions.

As noted above, the University is seeking a significant scholar at the
assistant- or associate-professor level. Excellent knowledge of
Armenian is a must, and other languages–such as Arabic, Turkish, and
Russian and French–are highly desirable.

The Dearborn campus of the University of Michigan has approximately
12,000 students. It is primarily a commuter campus located on the
fringe of the Detroit metropolitan area. Dearborn has an Arabic
population of some 30,000 persons, hence a person with the knowledge
of Arabic would be highly desirable. The person chosen should also be
able to teach Ottoman and Turkish history, if at all possible.

UM-D is a integral part of the three campus University of Michigan
system. While the history department only offers an undergraduate
degree, tenured professors at UM-D are members of the Horace
H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, the umbrella graduate school of
the University of Michigan, and members of the Rackham faculty are
eligible to serve on dissertation committees on any of the three
campuses.

The nominal teaching load is three courses per semester, but the
present Director is one-half time administrator and one-half time
teacher-scholar. The teaching load is negotiable.

The Center is currently moving into new quarters which are more than
three-times the size of its present quarters, thus providing ample
facilities for its program.

The Campus recently has established a Center for Arab-American
studies, concentrating on understanding and doing research on the Arab
community in America.

This position offers a rare opportunity to a scholar interested in
teaching, research, and publication as well as engaging in educational
activities within and outside the Armenian-American community.

The chosen candidate may begin as early as January 2005 or as late as
September 2005. The current Director, Prof. Dennis R. Papazian, will
serve until September 1, 2005, at which time the selected candidate
serving as Associate Director would become the Director.

For further information, please contact Dennis Papazian at telephone
201-505-1591, fax 201-746-0217, or by e-mail, [email protected]

Edicom, Suisse
SwissInfo
26 août 2004

Genève: le 28e festival de La Btie démarre

GENÈVE – Le festival de la Btie démarre à Genève. Jusqu’au 11
septembre, la manifestation, fidèle à elle-même, se proposera d’être
avant tout un lieu de découverte d’artistes, un moment d’innovation
et d’exploration de voies nouvelles.
Une cinquantaine de projets, dont 13 créations, figure au programme.
Une poignée d’artistes confirmés a été invitée à se produire, dont
Alain Bashung. Il interprétera, avec sa femme Chloé Mons, le poème
biblique «Le Cantique des Cantiques».
Le festival a également réussi à faire venir Christoph Marthaler.
L’ancien directeur du Schauspielhaus de Zurich, présent pour la
première fois sur les bords du Rhône, arrive avec dans ses bagages
«O.T. eine Ersatzpassion», sa dernière production jouée dans la ville
alémanique.
Charme de La Btie, le public pourra assister à des spectacles dans
des lieux insolites. L’aéroport de Genève servira notamment de cadre
à une performance de Massimo Furlan.
Les amateurs de sensations nouvelles pourront assister au concert du
groupe allemand Bohren & Der Club of Gore. Cette formation de Cologne
fuit la lumière. L’obscurité est son royaume. Dans la salle de
l’Alhambra, seuls les instruments bénéficieront d’un éclairage
minimaliste, le reste sera plongé dans le noir.
Des artistes seront aussi là pour déranger. Dans ce registre,
l’écrivain d’origine argentine Rodrigo Garcia devrait tenir un rôle
central. Les deux spectacles qu’il présente à La Btie, deux
critiques sans concession de la société contemporaine, promettent de
faire du bruit avec leurs «moments de vraie liberté».
Le spectacle sera aussi dans la rue. La place des Volontaires se
drapera par exemple d’une ambiance arménienne, avec des sons
retransmis en direct d’Erevan 24 heures sur 24.

Armenian National Committee of America
Eastern Region
80 Bigelow Avenue
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel: 617-923-1918
Fax: 617-926-5525
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
August 25, 2004
Contact: 617-923-1918; [email protected]

ANCA EASTERN REGION TO EXPAND OPERATIONS TO NEW YORK CITY

WATERTOWN, MA–The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Eastern
Region Board of Directors announced the establishment of a new office in New
York City and the hiring of ANC activist Doug Geogerian as the region’s new
Executive Director.

“With close to 20 local ANCs and working with countless activists in 31
states on the East Coast, we feel it is important for us to expand our
operations to give the Armenian American community additional resources to
rely on,” stated ANCA Eastern Region Chairman Dikran Kaligian. “With New
York City being the media and financial center of the world, an important
hub for academia and culture, and home to the headquarters of the United
Nations, various NGO’s and several Armenian American institutions, we feel
that this is an important and necessary step.”

“We are also excited to have Doug joining our staff. As an active and
committed member of the Armenian American community, he brings experience,
energy, and dedication to his position as Executive Director,” continued
Kaligian. “Doug will greatly assist the ANCA continue its work to further
promote important issues of concern to Armenian Americans,” concluded
Kaligian.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to begin working at the Armenian
National Committee of America,” stated Geogerian. “The task ahead promises
to be exciting and, at the same time, challenging. I look forward to
working with our local chapters and activists to help advance our interests
at the local, state and federal level.”

Geogerian earned a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Languages and Literature at
the University of Chicago in 1990 and was awarded a Masters of Education at
Harvard University in 1992. After pursuing advanced study at Teachers
College of Columbia University, Geogerian joined the faculty of a leading
progressive New York City high school whose mission was to engender critical
thinking skills in the minds of underprivileged youth. He has been a
teaching professional in the New York City public school system for the last
twelve years.

A prominent activist in the New York ANC, Geogerian has facilitated various
public forums, planned Genocide commemorations, met with Members of
Congress, and organized demonstrations for the advancement of the Armenian
Cause.

Current ANCA Eastern Region Director Arin Gregorian will be stepping down at
the end of August to pursue career interests in the Boston area. “Arin has
served as Director for three years, and his dedication and commitment have
contributed immensely to the success of the work we do in the Armenian
American community,” stated Kaligian. “We wish him great success in his
endeavors.” The Watertown, Massachusetts ANCA Eastern Region office will
remain open and active.

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in
coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout
the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.

The Communist Party will not allow anti-Russian sentiments to develop

Hayots Ashkharh, Yerevan
20 Aug 04

by Vahan Vardanyan

The Communist Party of Armenia [CPA] yesterday made a statement saying
that it intends to deal a final counterblow to any possible
anti-Russian sentiments. To find out the motives for such a
statement, the newspaper interviews the first secretary of the CPA
Central Committee, Ruben Tovmasyan.

[Hayots Ashkharh correspondent] Mr. Tovmasyan, how should one
understand such an unexpected statement by the CPA? What kind of
anti-Russian sentiments do you see as a subject of counteraction by
the party?

[Ruben Tovmasyan] Recently, various parties and politicians started
making statements concerning Armenian-Russian relations, calling them
exhausted. It means that the country’s foreign policy must be changed
towards the West and that only Western states, specifically the USA,
will help us build a prosperous country. Others point out the need for
Armenia’s integration into European structures and NATO.

However, the CPA is categorically against this position. We are sure
that only the deepening of relations with Russia can keep Armenia away
from disastrous developments in the future. The Communist Party of
Armenia believes that attempts to deepen anti-Russian sentiments will
affect only our country. Our relations with Russia over the last 300
years have stood a serious test and have done the Armenian people only
good.

[Correspondent] Who and which parties do you think support
anti-Russian sentiments?

[Tovmasyan] Unfortunately, their number has considerably increased of
late. Everyone who is allowed to speak on TV or in the press seems to
feel obliged to make anti-Russian statements, even saying that they
[the Russians] have prejudice against our people. Various parties, the
“remainder” of the [former ruling] Armenian Pan-National Movement,
initiators of various round table discussions and clubs have become
demonstrators of the “damage” caused by Armenian-Russian relations.

[Correspondent] Do you admit that such forces exist within the
Armenian opposition as well?

[Tovmasyan] Why not? But it is also unacceptable to us. A big question
mark is hanging over Russian-Armenian relations and the country’s
military orientation today, not over those who oppose the
authorities. Although the CPA is in radical opposition to the current
regime, it will not allow anti-Russian sentiments to develop,
irrespective of whether their initiators are in opposition or
government.

[Correspondent] However, the policy of the Armenian authorities is not
anti-Russian. In this context, your concern is exaggerated.

[Tovmasyan] No, it is not. As regards the authorities, I would mention
the circumstance that they do not make any radical statements and do
not declare pro-Russian orientation Armenia’s only and decisive
choice. There are some signs of it, but it does not mean that the
country’s orientation is pro-Russian, and it is mentioned in our
statement as well.

[Correspondent] Does the CPA still think that the only prospect is in
a union with Russia?

[Tovmasyan] Yes, we must ally ourselves with Russia on all
issues. Only this union will allow Armenia to solve its problems and
tasks.

[Correspondent] But which status should Armenia have in such a union?

[Tovmasyan] In my opinion, Armenia must maintain its statehood. But
we, the communists, consider it to be a key issue not to allow our
country to be sidelined from the developments in the former Soviet
Union. There is the Union of Russia and Belarus which is developing in
spite of minor obstacles. Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
are stressing more and more the idea of restoring the common economic
area. These are the signs of Russia’s serious influence. Armenia must
actively participate in these processes.

[Correspondent] There are many predictions that Western influence will
gradually prevail in our region. How can we ally ourselves only with
Russia if we have no common border?

[Tovmasyan] This does not mean that Armenia must follow the example of
Azerbaijan and Georgia which have really pro-Western orientation. Our
country’s role in Western programmes is too modest and nominal. The
CPA will never agree with this.

We must have a pro-Russian orientation, and maybe only this will
influence Georgia and Azerbaijan and make them change their
orientation, and it is not we who must follow them. The West will take
into account our opinion when it sees us in a union with Russia, not
when we accept all their demands.