Author: Harutyunian Christine

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/09/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) Karabagh Holds Local Elections
2) ARF Central Committee of Mountainous Karabagh Statement on Municipal
Elections
3) MKR Leadership Perplexed By CE Secretary General’s Statement
4) Pan-Diaspora Educational Conference Comes to a Successful Close
5) Georgia Asks Russia To Drop Support For Separatists

1) Karabagh Holds Local Elections

STEPANAKERT (RFE-RL)On Monday, officials in Mountainous Karabagh were
tabulating the results of weekend municipal elections angrily denounced by
Azerbaijan but touted by the leadership of the Armenian-populated territory as
a manifestation of its commitment to democracy.
According to the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Mountainous
Karabagh
Republic, 61 percent of some 85,000 eligible voters cast their ballots on
Sunday to choose the heads of administrations and legislative councils in
about
200 local towns and villages.
The lowest voter turnout was registered in the Stepanakert mayoral
electionthe
most closely watched race. Preliminary figures showed Pavel Najarian in the
lead with 42.8 percent of the vote.
His main challenger, Eduard Aghabekian, received 34.5 percent of votes cast
and is expected to receive the support by the three other, defeated
candidates
during the run-off scheduled for August 22. Aghabekian is also backed by the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation. Some local observers believe that this puts
Aghabekian in a strong position to become the next mayor of Stepanakert.
A former military medic, Aghabekian heads the social affairs committee of the
MKR parliament and stands in opposition to President Arkady Ghoukasian.
Najarian, on the other hand, enjoys the backing of Ghoukasian’s Democratic
Artsakh Union (ZhAM) party.
The CEC is due to release vote results for the whole of the MKR later this
week. Its chairman, Sergei Davtian, said the elections can already be
considered a success.
“The Central Election Commission has achieved its goal,” Dadtian said. “These
elections were better organized and more interesting than the previous ones.”
Davtian added that the CEC did not receive any reports of irregularities from
candidates as of late afternoon. However, it is expected that some candidates
will complain about material and moral government support given to their
pro-establishment rivals during the election campaign.
Sunday’s vote provoked an angry reaction from Azerbaijan which insists
that no
elections held in Karabagh that are not under its supervision can be
considered
legitimate. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev on Thursday again vowed to bring
Karabagh back under Baku’s control.
The outgoing secretary general of the Council of Europe, Walter Schwimmer,
similarly criticized the holding of the polls last week, saying that such
“one-sided actions are counter-productive” before the resolution of the
Karabagh conflict.
The criticisms were brushed off by the Karabagh Armenians. “We don’t think
that the international community and the European organizations in particular
would be interested in the absence of government in Mountainous Karabakh,”
they
said in a statement on Friday.
Armenia, for its part, lashed out at Azerbaijan, accusing it of exploiting
the
polls as well as the ongoing military exercise by Karabagh Armenian forces to
“divert attention from its unwillingness to negotiate a lasting peace.”
Official Stepanakert has said that the ten-day exercise, which began last
Tuesday, will test the combat-readiness of the MKR Defense Army in “defensive
and counter-offensive operations.”
In a separate development, the Karabagh authorities announced on Sunday the
capture of an Azerbaijani soldier who reportedly tried to cross into
Armenian-controlled territory through the heavily militarized frontline
east of
Karabagh. They said they informed the International Committee of the Red Cross
and the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe about the detention
of the soldier identified as Anad Samedov. No further circumstances of
Samedov’s capture were reported.

2) ARF Central Committee of Mountainous Karabagh Statement on Municipal
Elections

On August 8, 2004, municipal elections in the Mountainous Karabagh Republic
took place. An official announcement concerning the results of the elections
has not yet been made by the MKR Central Electoral Commission. According to
early election returns, the winner of the Stepanakert mayoral election will be
determined through a runoff. The runoff will be between Pavel Najarian and
Eduard Aghabekian. The ARF supported Aghabekian’s candidacy and did not
introduce its own candidate.
Candidates representing the ARF did participate in MKR regional elections.
Twelve of the ARF’s 13 candidates were victorious in the Hatrut region; both
candidates in the Askeran region were elected, while the mayoral candidate was
defeated; two of three candidates in Mardouni were elected; in the Kachataghi
region, 8 of the ARF’s 11 candidates were elected, and two advanced to the
second round of elections; 3 of the 8 candidates in Martakert were elected and
two advanced to the runoffs; in the Nor Shahoumian region, 7 of the 9
candidates were elected; the ARF candidate in Shushi was not elected.
The second round of elections will take place on August 22.

Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Committee of Mountainous Karabagh

3) MKR Leadership Perplexed By CE Secretary General’s Statement

STEPANAKERT (Combined Sources)–Reacting to recent remarks by the outgoing
secretary general of the Council of Europe Walter Schwimmer, who criticized
Sunday’s local elections in the Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR) saying
they
cannot be deemed legitimate before an international agreement on the disputed
territory’s status, MKR’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement
expressing concern and confusion. “The MKR leadership thinks that the election
of government bodies on all levels based on the principles of democracy is an
important step to the construction of the free democratic society,” the
statement read.
“One-sided actions are counter-productive. The future of Karabagh must be
decided through negotiations,” Schwimmer had said in a statement from
Strasbourg. He pointed to his criticism of elections held in Karabagh in the
past.
The foreign ministry statement made it apparent that it was perplexed by
Schwimmer’s remarks, as it was not clear on how the elections may negatively
influence the process of settling the Karabagh conflict. “Only the legitimate
power may bear the responsibility for the entrusted territories and has
necessary authorities for carrying on peaceful negotiations on the settlement
of the conflict,” it read.
Karabagh’s ethnic Armenian leadership has hels several presidential,
parliamentary, and local elections over the past decade. Official Stepanakert
backed by Armenia proper has argued that only elected officials can represent
the people of Karabagh in the peace talks sponsored by France, Russia, and the
United States.”
“MKR for over 10 years has lived as a sovereign state, which bears no
relation
to Azerbaijan and independently organizes its life in the territory that
historically belongs to the Armenians of Karabakh. All international
structures
that come up with such statements render political support to the regime which
unleashed the large-scale war against Karabakh and does not refuse from
attempts to apply force against the MKR,” concludes the statement.
MKR President Arkady Ghukasian said on Sunday that the local government
elections are an expression of democracy and that the people had an
opportunity
to elect their leaders, Armenpress reported.
“By holding such civil actions, we create more possibilities to be recognized
by the international community,” Ghukasian said.
“We are just electing heads of towns and villages,” Ghukasian said. “The
alternative to the elections is dictatorship. It is strange that European
politicians make such statements that undermine democratic values.”

4) Pan-Diaspora Educational Conference Comes to a Successful Close

ANTELIAS–Initiated by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and organized by the
Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, an International Conference on Armenian
education, held in the Armenian Theological Seminary in Bikfaya, Lebanon from
August 5-7, came to a close. The conference, whose theme was “The Armenian
Education in the Diaspora,” succeeded in bringing together nearly one hundred
participants from various diaspora communities worldwide, with different
political, cultural, and religious perspectives, to focus on issues pertaining
to the Armenian-Christian formation in today’s world.
In his opening address, His Holiness Aram I identified the concerns and
challenges facing Armenian-Christian education in the context of pluralistic
societies. Regarding the issue of defining today’s Armenian Christian and how
to shape the Armenian-Christian identity for tomorrow, His Holiness stressed
the crucial importance of re-evaluating and renewing educational
methodologies,
strategies, and programs by making them more relevant and reliable. In
order to
achieve this goal, His Holiness proposed that Armenia and the diaspora must
together engage in a process of developing a Pan-Armenian educational policy,
with particular attention on the worldwide Armenian diaspora.
On the agenda of the conference were topics including: the actual state of
education in different continents where Armenian communities live; the
implications of globalization on education; the role of the church in Armenian
Christian formation; the family as an important educational instrument; the
impact of pluralistic societies on Armenian Education; the use and misuse of
technology in education; the role of the textbooks and the extra curricular
activities; human resources: formation and training; the contribution of the
Saturday schools, Sunday schools, and children’s camps to education; the
importance of new community schools for the Armenian communities
established in
the West.
These and a number of related matters were discussed through papers, panel
discussions, and hearings. The active participation of young educators and
women provided new perspectives and dynamism to the discussion as they
challenged the traditional views and approaches and constantly reminded
that in
a new world context, a renewed perception and vision of education are
imperative. They echoed the challenge of His Holiness that in the present
world
of globalization and communication, Armenian Christian education must become
more responsive.
His Holiness personally attended all the sessions, highlighting the emerging
views and concerns at the end of each session.
The conference, an unprecedented event in contemporary Armenian history,
summarized its findings in a declaration, stressing the importance of putting
words and thoughts into action.
In his closing remarks, His Holiness Aram I identified three words which he
said must occupy a central place in Armenian diaspora educational work:
relevance, coherence, and integrity. “We are living in different contexts. We
must, therefore, develop different educational procedures and strategies. We
are citizens of different countries, yet we are Armenians and part of the
globalized world. We have our own convictions, values and norms, but we are
living in a new environment. Hence, it is vitally important that we develop
the
kind of educational policy that provides integrity, relevance and coherence to
our educational work, at the same time preserving our distinct Armenian
Christian identity. This is a great challenge before us and we must take it
seriously and responsibly,” said His Holiness.

5) Georgia Asks Russia To Drop Support For Separatists

MOSCOW (Reuters)–Georgia urged Russia on Monday not to ruin mutual relations
by supporting separatists in the provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and
called for dialogue. Georgia’s suspicions that Moscow is backing
separatists in
the Black Sea region of Abkhazia and mountainous South Ossetia have soured
relations between the two ex-Soviet states ever since the provinces broke away
after bloody wars in 1992-93.
Tension escalated earlier this year when Georgia’s President Mikhail
Saakashvili, who came to power in a bloodless coup last November, launched a
concerted campaign to restore the territorial integrity of his Caucasus
nation.

Last week Moscow, which has peacekeepers in both regions bordering Russia,
issued a series of angry statements accusing Tbilisi of preparing to seize
back
South Ossetia by force and threatening the safety of Russian tourists in
Abkhazia.
“Abkhazia and South Ossetia are not worth Russia ruining its relations with
Georgia forever,” Interfax news agency quoted Georgian Defense Minister Georgy
Baramidze, dispatched to Moscow to negotiate a compromise, as saying.
Russia has accused Georgia of building up military force in South Ossetia in
violation of a 1992 peace deal and provoking violence in the region, where
more
than half of the non-Georgian majority have Russian passports.
Moscow was outraged when Saakashvili vowed last week to shoot at boats
ferrying Russian tourists along the Black Sea coast to Abkhazian resorts. More
than 80 percent of Abkhazians also have Russian passports.
Georgia in turn accuses Russian peacekeepers of siding with separatists and
wants their mandate changed. Top Georgian officials have accused Moscow of
using separatism as a card in a political game to retain influence over
West-leaning Georgia.
Last week Saakashvili, a US-trained lawyer, flew to Washington to seek for
support in his confrontation with Moscow. But Secretary of State Colin Powell
advised him to continue dialogue with Russia and promised to help with “good
offices.”
In May, Moscow cooperated with Saakashvili when he seized control over the
independent-minded Black Sea region of Ajaria, whose leaders had close ties
with Russia. Ajaria, populated by ethnic Georgians, had never claimed full
independence.
Baramidze made clear that Tbilisi could be looking for similar deals on
Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
“The problem of conflicts in these regions can be solved in the interests of
Georgia and Russia,” he told Interfax. “If one looks pragmatically at the
situation, our countries have common interests.”

All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier
and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and
subscription requests.
(c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved.

ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for
academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through
mass media outlets.

NKR PRESIDENT GETS ACQUAINTED WITH COURSE OF ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS TO
ARTSAKH UNIVERSITY

STEPANAKERT, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). On July 30, NKR President Arkady
Ghoukassian got acquainted with the course of entrance examinations to
the main higher school of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic – Artsakh
State University (ASU). According to the Head Information Department
attached to the NKR President, the examiners and applicants, who did
not expect the visit of the President, got an unexpected possibility
to ask questions to him connected with the current examinations. The
president gave corresponding instructions to members of the admission
commission on ensuring fair and transparent examinations of knowledge
of applicants. The President was accompanied by the Secretary of the
NKR Security Council Karen Baburian.

AZERI DM WARNS ITS SERVICEMEN AGAINST COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR
ARMENIAN COUNTERPARTS

YEREVAN, JULY 29. ARMINFO. Azeri DM is instructing its servicemen
about possible contacts with their Armenian counterparts reports Ekho.

The Azeri participants in the NATO Rescuer/Merduer-2004 exercises in
Lithuania have been warned against communicating with Armenian
servicemen. “After the Ramil Safarov case the Azeri DM has made
relevant conclusions and has instructed its servicemen not to yield to
provocations by Armenian soldiers,” says the newspaper.

Over 2,000 servicemen are taking part in the exercises representing
Lithuania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, the US,
Croatia, Latvia, Moldova, Romania and Poland among them observers from
Luxembourg, Germany and Holland.

MAJOR TASK OF ARMENIAN DIPLOMACY REMAINS NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT
SETTLEMENT, NKR AND RA FOREIGN MINISTERS STRESS

STEPANAKERT, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). Urgent matters were discussed and
clarified at the joint consultation between the NKR Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and the RA diplomatic corps staged in Stepanakert in
the framework of the events dated do the 10th anniversary of the
Nagorno Karabakh Foreign Ministry. The outcome of the consultation was
the memorandum on partnership signed by the two parties, the NKR
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ashot Gulian revealed at a joint press
conference on July 30. The results of the consultation were summed up
at the press conference. The current major objective of the Armenian
diplomacy the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, ministers
of Foreign Affairs of the two countries stressed. The current
negotiations process cannot be considered a dead-end, an opinion often
expressed by various political experts, the RA minister of Foreign
Affairs Vardan Oskanian said. The involvement of the Nagorno Karabakh
party in negotiations is a must, Mr. Ashot Gulian believes. The
trilateral format gives an opportunity to settle a mutually profitable
agreement, he said. There is no tangible difference in stances assumed
by parties in the conflict, no stable points of contiguity can be
observed, the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs said. Commenting on the
question whether the principle of compulsion on the part of
international organization can be used, Mr. Oskanian replied that the
negotiations haven’t reached that stage yet. The two ministers also
touched upon the issue of Armenian-Azerbaijan border incidents that
have become more frequent of late, stressing that the initiative to
violate the cease-fire belongs to the Azeri side.

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th Street NW Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE
July 25, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA ENDORSES KERRY FOR PRESIDENT

— Cites Senator Kerry’s Long Record of Support on
Armenian American Issues, President Bush’s Retreat
from his Pledge to Recognize the Armenian Genocide

WASHINGTON, DC – In a move expected to impact electoral outcomes in
key presidential election swing states this November, the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA), the nation’s grassroots
Armenian American organization, today announced its endorsement of
the Kerry-Edwards ticket.

“For Armenian Americans, the clear choice is John Kerry,” said ANCA
Chairman Ken Hachikian. “Senator Kerry has been a friend of the
Armenian American community for over twenty years, with a proven
track record of fighting hard for issues of concern to Armenian
Americans across the nation. He faces an incumbent, President
Bush, whose record on Armenian issues has grown progressively more
disappointing throughout his tenure in the White House, beginning
with his broken campaign pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide,
including his Administration’s attempt to end military aid parity
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and up until this week, with his
Administration’s strident attacks on legislation recognizing the
Armenian Genocide.”

John Kerry welcomed the ANCA endorsement, stating that, “John
Edwards and I would like to thank the ANCA for its endorsement. We
are looking forward to working with all Armenian Americans to
create a stronger America, more respected in the world.”

“We call upon Armenian Americans to compare the respective records
of Senator Kerry and President Bush, to weigh the importance of
their ballot for the future of U.S.-Armenian relations, and to cast
their vote for the Kerry-Edwards ticket on November 2nd,” added
Hachikian.

The ANCA endorsement follows closely in the wake of the Bush
Administration’s forceful attack on the Schiff Amendment, a
provision adopted last week by the U.S. House that prevents Turkey
from using U.S. foreign aid to lobby against the Genocide
Resolution. Armenian Americans, particularly those in key swing
states such as Pennslyvania, Ohio, and Florida, are positioned to
play a decisive role in what looks, by all accounts, to be a hotly
contested election.

—————————————————————-
ANCA’s Outreach to the White House and Republican Leaders
—————————————— ———————-

The ANCA has, on several occasions over the past four years,
specifically asked for a meeting between President Bush and the
Armenian American community leadership. These formal requests,
which never received a response, were supported by a series of ANCA
and community-wide letters outlining the views and disappointments
of Armenian Americans on specific issues, ranging from the Armenian
Genocide to foreign aid policy.

In April of this year, the ANCA sent detailed letters to the
Chairman of the Bush-Cheney campaign, Marc Racicot, and the
Congressional Republican leadership voicing disappointment over the
Bush Administration’s record on Armenian issues, and expressing
frustration with the lack of responsiveness by the White House to
the concerns of the Armenian American community. The ANCA’s
concerns were grouped, in this letter, into three broad categories:
1) unfulfilled commitments, 2) opposition to community concerns,
and 3) failure to prioritize Armenian issues.

The Senate and House letters, addressed to House Speaker Dennis
Hastert (R-IL) and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN),
highlighted the powerful leadership demonstrated by a great many
Republicans on Armenian issues, notably by Armenian Caucus Co-
Chairman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Genocide Resolution author George
Radanovich (R-CA), and Senators such as Mitch McConnell (R-KY),
John Ensign (R-NV), George Allen (R-VA), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), and
many others. These letters included more than a dozen specific
recommendations by the ANCA about how the Congressional leadership
could encourage the White House to improve its standing among
Armenian American voters.

Neither the President nor his campaign responded to the ANCA’s
appeal for their intervention to help establish a constructive
dialogue between the Administration and the Armenian American
community.

For additional information on the ANCA’s outreach to Republican
leaders concerning the Bush Administration’s record on Armenian
issues, visit:
;pressregion=anca

—————————————————————-
ANCA Backs Up Endorsement by Calling
for Greater Grassroots Activism
———————————————— —————-

Along with its Presidential endorsement, the ANCA reminded Armenian
Americans that their ability to impact policy-level decision-making
depends, first and foremost, on the continued expansion of advocacy
efforts at all levels of government. The ANCA’s detailed
Congressional endorsements, which will be announced later this
year, will represent an important element of this process by
providing Armenian American voters with the information they need
to solidify the strong support our community enjoys in Congress.

“The challenge before the Armenian American community, as in years
past, remains growing our activism and strengthening our voice in
the public policy debates and within the foreign policy community,”
said Hachikian. “We call upon Armenian Americans to meet this
challenge by increasing our engagement with the Executive Branch
and providing the strongest possible support for our friends in the
U.S. House and Senate on November 2nd and throughout the 109th
Congress.”

—————————————————————-
The Kerry Record
——————————————- ———————

During his long tenure in the US House and Senate, Senator Kerry
has consistently been a leading advocate of issues of concern to
Armenian Americans. As a U.S. Senator, Kerry has forcefully fought
for U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and is currently a
cosponsor of the Genocide Resolution, S.Res.164. In 1990, Senator
Kerry voted on the Senate floor for Senator Bob Dole’s (R-KS)
Genocide Resolution.

The Massachusetts Senator has been a vocal and effective champion
of stronger U.S.-Armenia relations and has consistently backed
legislative initiative to increase aid and expand trade with
Armenia. He is currently a cosponsor of legislation, S.1557, which
would grant Armenia permanent normal trade relations status.

Senator Kerry has spearheaded a number of initiatives to lift the
Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades. In 1991, he was the lead sponsor
of legislation, which was later enacted as Section 907 of the
Freedom Support Act, restricting U.S. aid to the government of
Azerbaijan until its blockades of Armenia and Mountainous Karabagh
are lifted. He also worked for the adoption of the Humanitarian Aid
Corridor Act, which called for US aid to Turkey to be cut off
unless Turkey lifted its blockade of Armenia. As recently as this
January, Senator Kerry formally called on President Bush to press
the visiting Prime Minister of Turkey to lift his nation’s illegal
blockade of Armenia.

—————————————————————-
The Bush Record
——————————————- ———————

The full text of the Armenian American Presidential Report Card on
the Administration of George W. Bush is provided below:

1) Broken campaign pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide

Almost immediately after taking office, President Bush abandoned
his campaign pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide. This
promise, which he made in February of 2000 as Texas Governor, was
widely distributed among Armenian Americans prior to the hotly
contested Michigan primary. It read, in part, as follows:
“The twentieth century was marred by wars of unimaginable
brutality, mass murder and genocide. History records that the
Armenians were the first people of the last century to have endured
these cruelties. The Armenians were subjected to a genocidal
campaign that defies comprehension and commands all decent people
to remember and acknowledge the facts and lessons of an awful crime
in a century of bloody crimes against humanity. If elected
President, I would ensure that our nation properly recognizes the
tragic suffering of the Armenian people.”

Rather than honor this promise, the President has, in his annual
April 24th statements, used evasive and euphemistic terminology to
avoid describing Ottoman Turkey’s systematic and deliberate
destruction of the Armenian people by its proper name – the
Armenian Genocide.

2) Opposition to the Congressional Genocide Resolution

The Bush Administration is actively blocking the adoption of the
Genocide Resolution in both the House and Senate. This legislation
(S.Res.164 and H.Res.193) specifically cites the Armenian Genocide
and formally commemorates the 15th anniversary of United States
implementation of the U.N. Genocide Convention. The Genocide
Resolution is supported by a broad based coalition of over one
hundred organizations, including American Values, the NAACP,
National Council of Churches, Sons of Italy, International Campaign
for Tibet, National Council of La Raza, and the Union of Orthodox
Rabbis.

As recently as July 16th of this year, the Bush Administration
reiterated its opposition to legislation recognizing the Armenian
Genocide. In response the adoption by the U.S. House of the Schiff
Amendment, which blocks Turkey from using U.S. aid to lobby against
the Genocide Resolution, the Administration pressed Congressional
leaders to prevent the enactment of any provision recognizing the
Armenian Genocide.

3) Failure to condemn Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide

The Bush Administration has failed to condemn Turkey’s recent
escalation of its campaign to deny the Armenian Genocide. Notably,
the Administration has remained silent in the face of the decree
issued in April of 2003 by Turkey’s Education Minister, Huseyin
Celik, requiring that all students in Turkey’s schools be
instructed in the denial of the Armenian Genocide.

The State Department’s 2003 human rights report on Turkey uses the
historically inaccurate and highly offensive phrase “alleged
genocide” to mischaracterize the Armenian Genocide. In addition,
despite repeated protests, the Bush Administration’s State
Department continues to host a website on Armenian history that
fails to make even a single mention of the Genocide.
()

4) The Waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act

The Bush Administration, in 2001, aggressively pressured Congress
into granting the President the authority to waive Section 907, a
provision of law that bars aid to the government of Azerbaijan
until it lifts its blockades of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh.
President Bush has subsequently used this authority to provide
direct aid, including military assistance, to the government of
Azerbaijan, despite their continued violation of the provisions of
this law.

5) Reduction in aid to Armenia

In the face of the devastating, multi-billion dollar impact of the
Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades on the Armenian economy,
President Bush has, in each of the past three years, proposed to
Congress that humanitarian and developmental aid to Armenia be
reduced.

6) Abandonment of the Military Aid Parity Agreement

The Bush Administration abandoned its November 2001 agreement with
Congress and the Armenian American community to maintain even
levels of military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan. Instead, the
Administration, in its fiscal year 2005 foreign aid bill, proposes
sending four times more Foreign Military Financing to Azerbaijan
($8 million) than to Armenia ($2 million). This action tilts the
military balance in favor of Azerbaijan, rewards Azerbaijan’s
increasingly violent threats of renewed aggression, and undermines
the role of the U.S. as an impartial mediator of the Nagorno
Karabagh talks.

7) Mistaken Listing of Armenia as a Terrorist Country

The Bush Administration, through Attorney General John Ashcroft,
sought, unsuccessfully, in December of 2002 to place Armenia on an
Immigration and Naturalization Service watch list for terrorist
countries. This obvious error was reversed only after a nation-wide
protest campaign. Neither the White House nor the Department of
Justice has apologized for the offense caused by this mistake.

8) Neglect of U.S.-Armenia relations

While the Bush Administration has maintained a formal dialogue with
Armenia on economic issues through the bi-annual meetings of the
U.S.-Armenia Task Force, it has, as a matter of substance, failed
to take any meaningful action to materially promote U.S.-Armenia
economic ties. Specifically, the Administration has not provided
leadership on legislation, spearheaded by Congressional Republicans
and currently before Congress, to grant Armenia permanent normal
trade relations (PNTR) status. Nor has the Administration
initiated any steps toward the negotiation of a Tax Treaty, Social
Security Agreement, Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, or
other bilateral agreements to foster increased U.S.-Armenia
commercial relations.

The President neither visited Armenia nor has he invited the
President of Armenia to visit the United States.

9) Failure to maintain a balanced policy on Nagorno Karabagh

The Bush Administration, to its credit, took an early initiative to
help resolve the Nagorno Karabagh issue in the form of the Key West
summit meeting in 2001 between Secretary of State Powell and the
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. After Azerbaijan’s failure to
honor its Key West commitments, however, the Administration failed
to hold Azerbaijan accountable for unilaterally stalling the
Nagorno Karabagh peace process.

10) Increased grants, loans and military transfers to Turkey

The Bush Administration has effectively abandoned America’s
responsibility to link aid, loans, and arms transfers to Turkey’s
adherence to basic standards for human rights and international
conduct. The most notable example was the $8 billion loan package
provided to Turkey in 2003 despite Turkey’s refusal to allow U.S.
forces to open a northern front during the war in Iraq.

11) Taxpayer financing of the Baku-Ceyhan bypass of Armenia

The Bush Administration is supporting American taxpayer subsidies
for the politically motivated Baku-Ceyhan pipeline route that, at
the insistence of Turkey and Azerbaijan, bypasses Armenia.

12) Refusal to pressure Turkey and Azerbaijan to end their
blockades

The Bush Administration has not forcefully condemned the Turkish
and Azerbaijani blockades as clear violations of international law,
nor, outside of occasional public statements, has it taken any
meaningful steps to pressure the Turkish or Azerbaijani governments
to end their illegal border closures.

13) Lobbying for Turkish membership in the European Union

The Bush Administration has aggressively pressured European
governments to accept Turkey into the European Union, despite
Turkey’s consistent failure to meet European conditions for
membership, on issues ranging from the blockade of Armenia and the
Armenian Genocide to the occupation of Cyprus and human rights.

14) Down-grading relations with the Armenian American community

Breaking with the tradition of the last several Administrations,
the Bush White House failed to reach out in any meaningful way to
our nation’s one and a half million citizens of Armenian heritage.
While the State Department, Pentagon and National Security Council
maintained their long-standing, policy-level dialogue with the
Armenian American community leadership, the White House itself
essentially neglected Armenian Americans as a political
constituency. Perhaps the most telling example of this is that,
during the course of the past three years, despite repeated
requests, the President did not hold any community-wide meetings
with the leadership of the Armenian American community, nor did his
Secretary of State or National Security Advisor.

15) Armenian American appointments

To the Administration’s credit, the President appointed Joe
Bogosian to an important Deputy Assistant Secretary position at the
Commerce Department, John Jamian to a key maritime position in the
Department of Transportation, and Samuel Der-Yeghiayan as a Federal
Judge in the Northern District of Illinois.

Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
Service de base francais
19 juillet 2004

Développement Erdogan à Paris pour promouvoir la candidature turque à
l’UE

Paris (ats/afp) Le premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a
entamé lundi une visite officielle en France. Il entend promouvoir
auprès des dirigeants français la candidature de son pays à l’Union
européenne, un sujet qui divise la classe politique de l’Hexagone.

M. Erdogan a été reçu par son homologue français Jean-Pierre Raffarin
pour un entretien au cours duquel la question de l’adhésion de la
Turquie à l’UE a été abordée.

“Dans ce domaine, nous souhaitons bien entendu que tout le soutien
que la France nous a apporté, et notamment par l’intermédiaire du
président (Jacques) Chirac, se poursuive à l’avenir”, a déclaré M.
Erdogan, lors d’un point de presse avec M. Raffarin à l’issue de
l’entretien.

Critères de Copenhague

“Sur les questions européennes, le premier ministre turc m’a présenté
tous les efforts de réformes engagés par son pays pour répondre aux
critères de Copenhague définis par l’Union européenne”, a indiqué M.
Raffarin.

M. Erdogan devait être reçu mardi par le président Chirac pour un
déjeuner de travail et il devait aussi s’entretenir avec les
dirigeants des principaux partis politiques français.

La Commission européenne doit remettre en octobre sa recommandation
sur l’ouverture de négociations d’adhésion avec la Turquie, que
décideront ou non les dirigeants européens en décembre. La Turquie a
obtenu le statut de candidat à l’UE en 1999.

Réformes démocratiques

“Nous étudierons avec la plus grande attention le rapport de la
Commission cet automne et souhaitons une prise de position du Conseil
en décembre sur cet important sujet”, a dit à ce propos le premier
ministre français.

Estimant avoir rempli les conditions politiques pour ouvrir ces
négociations, le gouvernement de M. Erdogan, qui dirige un parti issu
de la mouvance islamiste, a fait passer au parlement plusieurs
réformes démocratiques.

La question de l’entrée dans l’UE de la Turquie, pays musulman mais
laïque de plus de 70 millions d’habitants, divise profondément les
opinions européennes et les partis politiques français.

“Irréversible”

Le président Chirac juge “irréversible” la marche d’Ankara vers l’UE.
Il estime que “la Turquie a une vocation européenne, historique, très
ancienne”, même si son parti, l’Union pour la majorité présidentielle
(UMP), s’est prononcé contre une adhésion.

A la différence des partis de droite, le Parti socialiste, premier
parti d’opposition en France, est favorable au principe de l’entrée
de la Turquie dans l’UE. Mais il conditionne l’ouverture de
négociations d’adhésion à la reconnaissance par ce pays du génocide
arménien de 1915, sous l’empire ottoman.

La communauté arménienne de France, avec 450 000 personnes, est la
plus importante d’Europe occidentale. Elle a obtenu en 2001 la
reconnaissance par le parlement français du génocide arménien, un
terme rejeté catégoriquement par Ankara.

Economie aussi au menu

Lors de sa visite, M. Erdogan doit également évoquer les relations
économiques entre les deux pays. La compagnie Turkish Airlines se
prépare à acheter près de 50 avions de ligne, notamment moyen et long
courrier, pour renouveler sa flotte. Le consortium aéronautique
européen Airbus et l’américain Boeing sont en lice.

Friday, July 9, 2004

FilmStew.com
Lohman Searches for the Truth Big Fish’s Alison Lohman does some
investigative journalism for latest Atom Egoyan project. By _FilmStew Staff
Report_ (mailto:[email protected])
Kevin Bacon and Colin Firth have found their leading lady. Alison Lohman has
signed on to star in Where the Truth Lies, the next project from filmmaker
Atom Egoyan. Serendipity Point Films’ Robert Lantos is producing the feature,
set to begin filming on location in Los Angeles, Toronto and London beginning
August 30.
Truth, formerly known as _Somebody Loves You_
(;ProjectID=188136) , was adapted
by Egoyan from the Rupert Holmes novel of the same name. The story centers
on a young journalist (Lohman) commissioned to write a book about a celebrated
comedy team of the ’60s. As she begins her research, what she discovers is
the darker side of fame and fortune during the sexually charged decades of
the ’60s and ’70s.
Lohman, repped by CAA, was most recently seen in Tim Burton’s _Big Fish_
(;Proj
ectID=187452) . Her other feature credits include _Matchstick Men_
( jectsSection=Project&Action=First
Time&Tit le=Matchstick_Men) and _White Oleander_
( asp?ProjectsSection=Project&ProjectID=21429) . She’s
currently filming Mark Mylod’s _The Big White_
(;ProjectID=10501) , opposite Robin
Williams and Holly Hunter

Armenianow.com
July 9, 2004

Social Insecurity: Identity cards meet devilish resistance from religious
extremists

By Marianna Grigoryan ArmeniaNow reporter

When controversy stirred a year ago over issuing Social Security Cards in
Armenia, officials predicted that by the time the cards came into use, their
value would be understood.

Ten days ago, the first cards appeared. But so did more noise on the part of
those who see the cards as anything from an annoying invasion of privacy to
the apocalyptic “Mark of the Beast”.

“No to Numeration”
The term for implementing the card system has been extended until January 1,
2005, but it appears that for a small but vocal minority, resistance is
endless.

“These cards are against freedom of conscience, faith and human rights,”
says Armen Avetisyan, leader of Armenian Aryan Unanimity and a member of the
Council Against People’s Numeration. “It’s been more than three months that
with threats of being fired, everywhere people are being forced to be
numerated, meaning to get those cards. These cards are a violation of human
rights.”

Avetisyan was among a group that gathered last week near the Institute of
Manuscripts for “fighting against satanic power”, advising others with
placards that read “Don’t Sell Our Souls”, “Your Holiness, Don’t Leave Your
Flock”, “No to People’s Numeration”, “How Many Heads of Servants Does Satan
Have in Armenia?”

The group carried a special coffin in which it placed mockups of Social
Security Cards, calling for the burial of the “evil” idea.

The intention was to carry the coffin to Republic Square. Police, however,
confiscated the coffin.

“As it was planned, on July 1 the coffin had to be brought to Republic
Square and people who were cheated and forced to get cards were to put
them into the coffin,” says Avetisyan. “However, the action failed
since before the protesters started acting police confiscated the
coffin and the portrait of the social security card framed and tied
with a black ribbon. If they don’t return our coffin in the nearest
time we shall sue the police.”

Council Against People’s Numeration member Khachik Stamboltsyan says the
group has more than 100,000 written complaints about the cards and more than
a million followers who are fighting against “satanic cards”.

“We collect those cards from people and are going to return them to the
ministry,” says Stamboltsyan. “Meanwhile, we will do anything to interfere
with the implementation of that system.”

Religious extremists think the cards are Satanic
Ministry of Social Welfare experts dismiss the controversy as a
misunderstanding, assuring that Social Security cards are not obligatory,
but may be necessary for future interaction in government-related record
keeping.

“If a person receives salary or pension, it’s clear that he’ll need a social
card and if he does not depend on such things he can refuse it,” says
Haykuhi Gevorgyan, a public relations officer at the Ministry of Social
Welfare.

Gevorgyan says at present around 1.6 million citizens have registered to get
social security cards and 1 million of them have already received them.

“The process continues, people call, ask questions and get registered to
receive a card,” says Gevorgyan. “Everything goes its natural way.”

However, those who are opposed to the cards assure unanimously that the
system is “a satanic brand”, “soul genocide” and is the best option to
eliminate the nation physically and spiritually.

According to one widespread opinion among dissenters, people are numerated
so that they lose their individuality.

“With the Lord’s help we’ve been fighting against cards for three years and
we will continue fighting until we achieve what we want, since it’s even
terrifying to imagine what information is put in those cards,” says
Stamboltsyan. “That information is kept for 400 years and serves against our
nation and religion. We cannot allow such a thing to happen.”

Stamboltsyan says his group has applied to many souces and also to the
Catholicos to protect Christians from that disaster. However His Holiness
Garegin II says he sees no threat in the cards and has received his on July
3.

“By that step the Catholicos sold Christ for 30 silver coins,” says
Stamboltsyan. “But with God’s power we will eliminate that system; there are
many clerics who follow us.”

ARKA News Agency
July 8 2004

RA government approves Armenian-American agreement on provision of
mutual services

Yanosh Potoshnik: Expanding of EU is important for future of EU and
South Caucasus

Newly appointed Ambassador of Iran to Armenia arrives in Yerevan

RA President orders to call to account those involved in abuse on
medicine market

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

RA GOVERNMENT APPROVES ARMENIAN-AMERICAN AGREEMENT ON PROVISION OF
MUTUAL SERVICES

YEREVAN, July 8. /ARKA/. RA Government approved Armenian-American
agreement on provision of mutual services, RA Government press office
told ARKA.
Agreement of provision of mutual services was signed in Yerevan on
April 26, 2004. Agreement creates legal base for provision of rear
assistance on the terms of mutual refund. L.D. –0–

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

YANOSH POTOSHNIK: EXPANDING OF EU IS IMPORTANT FOR FUTURE OF EU AND
SOUTH CAUCASUS

YEREVAN, July 8. /ARKA/. Expanding of EU is important for future of
EU and South Caucasus, EU Commissar on Expanding Issues Yanosh
Potoshnik stated today at the lecture dedicated to the program
`Expanded Europe: New Neighbors’ in European Regional Academy.
According to him, inclusion of the region in the program opens new
opportunities of cooperation with EU.
He said that in the frames of the program European Commission experts
prepare national report on Armenia that will be ready by the end of
the year or in spring 2005. According to him, the report will cover
the level of democracy, economic condition and legal aspects.
Besides, each country must represent program of activities on
concrete programs. `It will depend on represented program what way
the country wants to pass’, Potoshnik said. The program also includes
mechanism of financial assistance that can be used only till 2007 and
now the accent is made on strengthening of political cooperation of
EU with the countries of the region. L.D. –0–

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

NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF IRAN TO ARMENIA ARRIVES IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, July 8. /ARKA/. Newly appointed Ambassador of Iran to
Armenia Ali Reza Hakikiyan arrived today in Yerevan, RA MFA told
ARKA. After hading of credentials to the President of Armenia,
Hakikiyan will take the office.
According to IRNA, the offer of appointment of Hakikiyan on this
position was made by Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Harrazi. Before
the appointment Ali Reza Hakikiyan headed information-analytical
department of Iranian MFA and at the same time was a Charge D’Affairs
of Iran to Iraq. L.D. –0–

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

RA PRESIDENT ORDERS TO CALL TO ACCOUNT THOSE INVOLVED IN ABUSE ON
MEDICINE MARKET

YEREVAN, July 8. /ARKA/. The Ra President Robert Kocharian held a
working meeting today in Yerevan where the situation on medicine
market was discussed. According to the Press Service Department of RA
President, the participants discussed the issue of distribution and
storage of medical supplies, received from benevolent sources. Vahram
Barseghyan, the Head of Control service attached to the RA President,
presented the results of conducted examinations in this sphere. The
RA President gave instructions to plenipotentiary bodies to call to
account those involved in abuse on medicine market and ordered the
control service to continue the inspection of the market. The
Minister of Health was given a task to solve the issues connected
with normalization of distribution and storage of medical supplies.
L.V. -0–

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, CA 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
Friday, July 02, 2004
Contact: Ardashes Kassakhian
818.500.1918

CITY OF PASADENA AND ANC DELEGATION TO BEGIN OFFICIAL ARMENIA VISIT

YEREVAN, ARMENIA – An official California delegation led by membersof
the Pasadena Armenian National Committee (ANC), Pasadena Mayor Bill
Bogaard, Pasadena Police Chief Bernard Melikian began their official
visit to the Republic of Armenia. This is the first Pasadena City
delegation to visit the Republic of Armenia and will include a special
visit to Pasadena’s sister city of Vanadzor, Armenia. The Pasadena
delegation began their tour of Armenia onJuly 1st and will return on
July 5th.

Accompanying the Mayor and Police Chief are ANCA Pasadena ANC members
Suzanne Berberian, Sona Harytenian, Ara Sahakian. Mayor Bogaard is
servingout his second 4-year term as Pasadena’s first City-wide
elected mayor, after winning re-election with a vote of 85%. In 2003,
the Mayor was honored withthe Pasadena Armenian National Committee
Civic Leadership Award given to a public official who has worked
closely with the Armenian community and help build bridges between the
city’s diverse communities. Police Chief Melekian has been heading
the Pasadena police department since 1996. Prior to joining the City
of Pasadena, Chief Melekian served with the Santa Monica Police
Departmentfor 23 years. He was awarded the Medal of Valor in 1978 and
the Medal of Courage in 1980. He is of Armenian ancestry and this is
his first visit to the Republic of Armenia.

`We are very excited about this historic visit to Armenia and
particularly to Vanatzor,’ stated Pasadena ANC Chairman, Shahan
Stepanian. `This visit will serve to strengthen the ties between
Vanatzor and Pasadena and give our public officials a better
understanding of the rich Armenian culture and history.’ During the
four day visit, Mayor Bogaard and Chief Melikian are scheduled to meet
with the Mayor of Yerevan – Armenia’s capital, `Dzidzernagapert’ – the
Armenian Genocide Monument, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, and
`Ecthmiadzin’ the Holy See of the Armenian Church – one of the oldest
Christian Churches in the world.

The focus of the delegation’s visit will be a visit to Pasadena’s
sister city, Vanadzor. Vanadzor was established as Pasadena’s fourth
sister cityin 1991. Previously known as Kirovakan, it is located in
the northwestern region of Armenia, about 80 miles north of Yerevan.
With a population of about 175,000, it is the third largest city in
Armenia. Known for its rich natural beauty and mineral springs,
Vanadzor is undergoing a rebirth and revitalization after it was
nearly destroyed in the 1988 earthquake that rocked Armenia.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughoutthe 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.