Author: Hunanian Jack

UNITED ARMENIAN FUND
1101 N. Pacific Avenue # 301
Glendale, CA 91202
Tel: 818.241.8900
Fax: 818.241.6900

For Immediate Release
11 March 2006

UAF’s 137th Airlift Delivers
$3.6 Million of Aid to Armenia

Glendale, CA – The United Armenian Fund’s 137th airlift arrived
in Yerevan on March 11, delivering $3.6 million of humanitarian
assistance.

The UAF itself collected $2.9 of medicines and medical supplies for
this flight, most of which were donated by AmeriCares ($2,100,000);
Operation Blessing/Armenia Fund U.S.A. ($570,000); Brothers Brother
Foundation ($266,000) and Catholic Medical Mission Board ($39,000).

Other organizations which contributed goods for this airlift were:
Armenian General Benevolent Union ($213,000); Michael Der Boghosian
from Boston Medical Center ($166,000); Dr. Stephen Kashian ($65,000);
Nork Marash Medical Center ($42,000) and Armenian Missionary
Association of America ($28,000).

Also contributing to this airlift were: Howard Karagheusian
Commemorative Corp ($19,000): Armenian Relief Society ($15,000) and
Armenian American Health Association of Greater Washington ($9,000).

Since its inception in 1989, the UAF has sent $428 million of
humanitarian assistance to Armenia on board 137 airlifts and 1,285
sea containers.

The UAF is the collective effort of the Armenian Assembly of America,
the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian Missionary
Association of America, the Armenian Relief Society, the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America, the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of America and the Lincy Foundation.

For more information, contact the UAF office at 1101 North Pacific
Avenue, Suite 301, Glendale, CA 91202 or call (818) 241-8900.

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SPANISH EX-FM ANNE PALACIO: “ARMENIA SHOULD FREE OCCUPIED AZERBAIJANI LANDS”

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 13 2006

“Russian military bases in the western Armenia and Georgia should
be closed, new Marshall Plan should be applied to entire Southern
Caucasus region and the Southern Caucasus countries should integrate
into Europe,” said Spanish ex-Foreign Minister Anne Palacio.

The US and Europe are called on to intensify attempts to fight
Russia’s shadow empire in the article by ex-foreign minister Anne
Palacio, the US representative of Marshall Foundation- Mr. Daniel
Twining. The Washington post article reads Russia still continues
imperialist policy against its neighbors.

“After the Cold War ended, Russian leaders created “empires” in the
sovereign countries and sponsor the “frozen conflicts” in Eastern
Europe and the Southern Caucasus”.

Spanish ex-minister touched upon Nagorno Garabagh conflict between
Azerbaijan and Armenia and stated that Russia has political and
military influence on this conflict.

“Western countries should support the agreement on settlement of the
Garabagh conflict. According to this agreement, Armenia should free
occupied Azerbaijani lands and autonomy status should be given to
Nagorno Garabagh till its status was determined through referendum.

Russian military bases in the western Armenia should be closed, new
Marshall Plan should be applied to entire Southern Caucasus region
and the Southern Caucasus countries should integrate into Europe”.

MAYOR OF YEREVAN: YEREVAN, VENICE TO SIGN AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION IN CULTURE IN NEAR FUTURE

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 17 2005

YEREVAN, October 17. /ARKA/. Yerevan and Venice will sign agreement
on cooperation in culture in the near future, Mayor of Yerevan
Yervand Zakharyan told journalists at the photo exhibition “Armenian
memories in Italy”. He said that this agreement will be signed
in two months. He said that photo exhibition held at the Yerevan
Municipality is only one link between Armenia and Venice. “We hope
we will strengthen relations between our cities, including trade and
economic cooperation”, Zakharyan said. Over 20 foreign cities are
the twin-cities of Yerevan.

SURPRISINGLY NOBEL PINTER
By Caroline Walters and Lianne Vella

Edinburgh Student Newspaper, UK
Oct 17 2005

Considering that in recent years Harold Pinter has been more known for
his politics than his plays, it seems surprising that this year’s Nobel
Prize Commitee has chosen him as the recipent of this lauded accolade.

The secretive Swedish Commitee have a massive 1.3 million euros
(c.£890,000) to give away. These judges consistently decide which
literary gods we should worship but have been known for their
unpredictability and the often, can we say, randomness of their
choices.

An example is last year’s controversial Elfriede Jelinek, famous for
The Piano Teacher. She’s only the tenth woman to ever win. A member of
the jury announced a year after the event, clearly he’s a slow reader,
that her books are “whingeing, unenjoyable, violent pornography”. Knut
Ahnlund decided to quit the academy in protest against their arbitrary
decisions, as he felt no-one had actually read Jelinek and would have
noted her explicit sexuality. She did cause controversy but her books
are interesting coming from someone who’s actually read them.

What should actually constitute an award-winning Nobel prize writer?

Is it given for merit? Or personal preferences?

In the current political climate it was hoped that they might make a
riskier choice. One of the favourite picks to win was Orhan Pamuk,
Turkish author of Snow and My Name is Red. He’s currently up for
trial, as he claimed that the Turkish state had committed genocide
against the Armenians and the Kurds. Turkey’s current bid to enter
the EU also gives it a more politically interesting context.

Another tipped choice was Joyce Carol Oates, who we personally like,
because of her visceral quality. She has just published her 44th
critically acclaimed novel, quite a feat and proof of her staying
power, at times a rare occurence with Nobel winners. But, the
admittedly well-known Pinter swung out of nowhere and stole the prize.

His career began in 1957 when his first play The Room was performed
at Bristol University. But it was from 1960, with the critically
acclaimed The Caretaker, that his fame really began to bloom. The
Academy’s citation about Pinter indicates one of the reasons for his
critical acclaim: his work “uncovers the precipice under everyday
prattle and forces entry into oppression’s closed rooms.” This is one
of the characteristic features of his absurdist plays that have come
to mean so much to the band of eighteen intellectuals.

However, in the past few years he has decided to abandon his career as
a playwright for that of a poet. This shift to lyricism was sparked
by his fervent beliefs against the war in Iraq. He demonstrated his
passionate opinions by speaking in the House of Commons in 2002: “They
are determined, quite simply, to control the world and[…] they don’t
give a damn how many people they murder on the way.” Most people are of
the opinion that this is probably the reason he won the award. Although
his political consciousness is admirable and full of venom, he is more
likely to be remembered by the literary community for his 29 plays.

Pinter has an epic back catalogue that clearly deserves the award.

However, in the past the Academy have been arguably unfair in their
decisions. There are some notable ommisions from the 104 winners,
including Joyce, Woolf, Ibsen, Zola, Conrad, Kafka, Tolstoy and
Proust. Prizes by their nature won’t include everyone, but you have
to ask, why did they leave these out?

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–Boundary_(ID_mhP bJeP+3jopjIeFneX7FQ)–

KEBABS OF ALL KINDS TO SPICE UP FESTIVAL
By Pat Cahill

The Repubican, MA
Oct 13 2005

There may be people out there who think that shishkebab is the only
kind of kebab in the world.

Not so, as the upcoming Armenian fall festival at St. Gregory Armenian
Apostolic Church in Indian Orchard will deliciously reveal.

The ethnic festival will take place on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

in the church hall at 135 Goodwin St. in the Indian Orchard section
of Springfield.

Advertisement

Admission and parking will be free, with food and other items priced
individually. All proceeds will go to St. Gregory’s.

In addition to homemade Armenian cuisine from entrees to desserts, the
festival will include raffle prizes and bargain-priced collectibles.

Kebabs (as Armenians call kabobs) are chunks of meat on a skewer.

Shishkebab is made with lamb, while losh kebab is made with specially
seasoned ground lamb and beef.

Chicken kebab will also be served at the festival.

Kebabs of all kinds will come with rice pilaf, salad, and pita bread.

Other dishes on the menu will include stuffed grape leaves and spinach
pie, stuffed grape leaves, pickled vegetables, seasoned cracked wheat,
and a thin-crust Armenian version of pizza with meat called lahmajun.

Baked goods will include traditional Armenian breads and pastries.

Among the prizes to be raffled will be a 3-by-5-foot Oriental rug
donated by Charles Yenian and Co., a guardian-angel pin made by
David Yurman, a 14-karat gold cross donated by Hovsep Atchian, a
handmade clock made and donated by Harry Setian, and a year’s worth
of Megabucks lottery tickets.

Baskets filled with gifts for adults and children will also be
raffled. A “forgotten treasures” booth will feature crafts and
collectibles for sale.

Raffle drawings will take place in the evening, but winners need not
be present if they have bought raffle tickets earlier in the day.

PRESS RELEASE
Council of Europe Press Division
Ref: 523b05
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
[email protected]
internet:

Constitutional reform in Armenia : Declaration by the Chair of the
Council of Europe Committee of Ministers

Strasbourg, 10.10.2005 – Diogo Freitas do Amaral, Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Portugal and Chairman of the Council of Europe Committee of
Ministers, made the following statement:

“After several months of intense debate, Armenia’s National Assembly has
just adopted a number of constitutional amendments, in line with the
country’s commitment undertaken when joining the Council of Europe. The
referendum to be held on 27 November on this reform will be vital for
Armenia. By turning out to vote during the referendum, the people of
Armenia will indeed be deciding on changes of fundamental importance for
their future. The expertise of the constitutional amendments by the
Council of Europe’s Venice Commission has shown that the reform will
allow the alignment of the Constitution with European standards by
enhancing the independence of the judiciary, providing a more balanced
distribution of power between the executive and the legislative
branches, as well as promoting local democracy and freedom of the media.

I appeal to the sense of responsibility and concern for the common good
of Armenia’s political parties, beyond their differences, in order to
support this reform, which is essential to the country’s future as a
democracy. By participating in the referendum and showing their
attachment to the values of freedom and democracy, the people of Armenia
will show their desire to see Armenia fully assume its part in the
European construction.”

Réforme constitutionnelle en Arménie : Déclaration de la
Présidence du Comité des Ministres du Conseil de l’Europe

Strasbourg, 10.10.2005 – Diogo Freitas do Amaral, Ministre des Affaires
étrangères du Portugal et Président du Comité des Ministres du
Conseil de l’Europe, a fait la déclaration suivante :

” Après plusieurs mois d’un débat intense, l’Assemblée Nationale
d’Arménie vient d’adopter un certain nombre d’amendements à la
Constitution, comme ce pays en avait pris l’engagement en adhérant au
Conseil de l’Europe. Le référendum qui doit avoir lieu le 27
novembre prochain sur cette réforme sera capital pour l’Arménie. En
participant au référendum, le peuple arménien décidera en effet
d’un certain nombre de changements fondamentaux pour son avenir.
L’expertise des amendements constitutionnels par la Commission de Venise
du Conseil de l’Europe a montré que la réforme doit permettre
d’aligner la Constitution sur les standards européens en renforçant
l’indépendance de la justice, en assurant un meilleur équilibre des
pouvoirs entre l’exécutif et le législatif, ainsi qu’en encourageant
la démocratie locale et en promouvant la liberté des médias.

Je fais appel au sens des responsabilités et au souci du bien commun
des partis politiques arméniens, par delà les clivages, pour
soutenir cette réforme essentielle pour l’avenir démocratique de
l’Arménie. Par leur participation active au référendum et en
marquant leur adhésion aux valeurs de liberté et de démocratie,
les citoyens arméniens manifesteront leur volonté de voir
l’Arménie prendre toute sa place dans la construction européenne. ”

A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to
promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops
common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 46
member states.

ARKA News Agency
Oct 7 2005

CBA CHIARMAN: 95% OF MONETARY TRANSFERS TO ARMENIA ACCOUNT FOR
TRANSFERS IN USD

YEREVAN, October 7. /ARKA/. 95% of monetary transfers to Armenia
account for transfers in USD, as the CBA Chiarman Tigran Sargsyan
stated in the framework of the Second open international interbank
conference “Monetary Transfers”. According to him, the problem is
that citizens have no possibility to choose the currency of payment,
but they might like to transfer rubbles from the RF and receive AMD
in the RA. According to Sargsyan, AMD appreciation to USD has been
recorded in the RA recently. It caused discontent of people who
receive transfers in USD, since the buying capacity of USD reduced by
17%.
According to Sargsyan, the problem of monetary transfers is actual in
Armenia. “The actuality of the issue has been observed all over the
world. The issue is discussed at all international conferences. The
phenomenon is preconditioned by the inflow of migrants from many
countries and by the fact that migrants make monetary transfers to
their relatives”, he said. According to him, the second factor
contributing to the growth of monetary transfers is the active
monetary policy program of the USA and growth of dollar liquidity.
A.H. -0–

ARMENIAN PREMIER, GREEK DEFENCE MINISTER DISCUSS TURKISH-EU TALKS

Mediamax news agency, Armenia
Oct 5 2005

Yerevan, 5 October: Armenia and Greece have the same view on the
negotiations on Turkey’s accession to the EU, Armenian Prime Minister
Andranik Markaryan and Greek Defence Minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos
said at a meeting today, Mediamax reports.

The two parties stressed that the negotiations on Turkey’s accession
to the EU will make this country more controllable and predictable,
which will allow Yerevan and Athens to solve tasks proceeding from
their national and state interests: the recognition of Cyprus, the
opening of the Armenian-Turkish border and the recognition of the
Armenian genocide.

Markaryan and Spiliotopoulos stated that the strategic interests of
Armenia and Greece in the region coincide and are based on their
understanding of the need to maintain the military and political
balance.

KOCHARIAN WELCOMES IDEA OF CREATING REGIONAL CENTER OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES

Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 5 2005

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Completely established local
self-government bodies are important factors of stability of the
state. RA President Robert Kocharian stated about this receiving
Giovanni Di Stasi, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional
Authorities of Council of Europe, on October 5.

The President of the republic welcame the practical relations
established between the Congress of the Council of Europe and the
Government of Armenia.

According to Robert Kocharian, the decentralization is the main
direction of the regional policy what, first of all, means development
of local self-government. According to the President, that course
found its expressionin the draft constitutional reforms as well.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA President’s Press Office, the
interlocutors exchanged opinions concerning the regional cooperation.

The Congress President of the Council of Europe arose idea of
creating a regional center of local self-government bodies, what,
according to him, will support establishment of economic, social,
cultural cooperation among them.

Welcoming that idea, the President of the republic said that Armenia
has always been for the regional cooperation and is of the opinion
that the cooperation will help creation of an atmosphere of mutual
confidence among parties and support an easier settlement of regional
problems.

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS IN AZERBAIJAN

Eurasianet Organization
Oct 5 2005

1828 Russia and Persia conclude Turkmanchay Treaty, dividing
Azerbaijan.

Present-day Azerbaijan becomes part of the Russian empire.

1840s First oil wells drilled near Baku.

1918-20 Azerbaijan enjoys short-lived independence, gained as a result
of collapse of Russian empire, before re-conquest by the Red Army.

1922 Azerbaijan is part of Trans-Caucasian Soviet Federative Republic
within Soviet Union.

1936 Azerbaijan established as separate union republic of the Soviet
Union.

1967 Heidar Aliyev becomes head of Azerbaijani KGB.

1969 Aliyev named head of Azerbaijani Communist Party.

1982 Aliyev becomes full member of Soviet Politburo.

1987 Heidar Aliyev leaves Politburo.

1988 Inter-ethnic strife hits Nagorno-Karabakh region. Ethnic
Azerbaijanis begin to leave Karabakh and Armenia and ethnic Armenians
leave Azerbaijan. Violence in Azerbaijani city of Sumgait leaves at
least two dozen ethnic Armenians and six Azerbaijanis dead.

1990 Inter-ethnic tension in Karabakh escalates. Trouble also occurs in
Nakhichevan exclave, as local residents agitate for more open border.

Soviet and Iranian authorities ultimately agree to ease border-crossing
restrictions. Inter-ethnic violence in Baku leaves at least 100 dead
and prompts intervention by Soviet troops.

Ayes Mutallibov named Azeri Communist Party leader. Communist Party
retains power in parliamentary elections, but opposition Popular
Front also gains representation.

1991 Azerbaijan regains independence after failed coup attempt
against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev sparks the collapse of the
Soviet Union. Mutallibov becomes Azerbaijani president. Heidar Aliyev
assumes leadership of Nakhichevan exclave.

Armenian leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh declares the region an
independent republic. Warfare between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces
breaks out.

1992 More than 600 Azerbaijanis are killed as they flee an Armenian
attack on Karabakh town of Khojaly. Ethnic Armenian forces establish
land corridor linking Karabakh with Armenia proper.

Mutallibov forced to resign. Abulfaz Elchibey, leader of Popular Front,
becomes president.

1993 Armenian forces occupy Azerbaijani territory surrounding Karabakh.

Political instability rocks Baku. An uprising led by an army commander,
Col. Surat Huseinov, prompts Elchibey to invite Aliyev to return to
Baku. Elchibey subsequently steps down, and Aliyev assumes leadership
of the country. His rule is later ratified in a referendum.

1994 Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh sign a ceasefire accord.

Ethnic Armenians remain in control of Karabakh and a swathe of
Azerbaijani territory around it. Aliyev acts to consolidate his
authority, cracking down on Popular Front. Later he declares a state
of emergency following what he characterizes as a coup attempt.

Azerbaijan signs what it calls the “deal of the century” with a
consortium of international oil companies, led by British Petroleum,
for the exploration and exploitation of three offshore oil fields.

1995 Karabakh functions as de facto independent republic, holding
legislative elections. Robert Kocharian becomes Karabakh leader. The
Aliyev-led New Azerbaijan Party wins controlling share of seats
in parliamentary elections. Voters approve a new constitution in
a referendum.

1997 Kocharian becomes prime minister of Armenia proper. Aliyev and
his Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrossian agree to OSCE proposal
for step-by-step Karabakh solution. Fierce domestic opposition to
peace plan in Armenia forces Ter-Petrossian to resign. Kocharian
becomes president of Armenia.

1998 Opposition activists complain that president election, won
easily by Aliyev, is marked by fraud. International monitors note
irregularities.

2001 Azerbaijan becomes full member of Council of Europe, despite
criticism about the country’s human rights record. US-brokered talks
on Nagorno-Karabakh, held between Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents
in Key West, Florida, reportedly produce tentative deal to settle
the conflict. However, the deal, if it existed, ends up falling apart.

Following the September 11 terrorist tragedy, the United States lifts
sanctions against Azerbaijan imposed over Karabakh conflict.

Azerbaijan becomes ally in anti-terrorism campaign.

Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey reach agreement on oil and gas pipelines
linking Caspian fields with Turkey.

2002 Construction work starts on multi-billion-dollar pipeline to
carry Caspian oil from Azerbaijan to Turkey via Georgia. The Pipeline
is known as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC).

2003 Aliyev appoints his son, Ilham, as prime minister. In April,
Heidar Aliyev collapses while making speech. He is rarely seen in
public after that. Ilham wins a landslide election as president
in October.

Opposition leaders, complaining about vote-rigging, mount a protest.

Authorities crack down hard against opposition. Authorities announce
in December that 80-year-old Heidar Aliyev has died.

2005 Journalist Elmar Huseinov, an outspoken government critic, is
killed in Baku in March. Opposition supporters believe killing was
politically motivated. Police use force to break up an opposition rally
in Baku in May. The same month, authorities and diplomats celebrate the
formal opening of the BTC pipeline. Azerbaijan and Armenia renew search
for Karabakh peace settlement under the so-called Prague Process.