Author: Jidarian Alex

Pakistan Times, Pakistan
July 12 2004

The Sandwich Policy of Iran
By Tariq Saeedi

FOR the last decade or so, Iran has been following a policy that
defies any rational justification. After the fever to export Islamic
revolution subsided in the early 1990¡¯s, Iran started a number of
maneuvers that can collectively be called The Sandwich Policy.

The Sandwich Policy is meant to maintain imperceptible but persistent
tension with the immediate neighbours and promote deep friendly
relations with the neighbours of neighbours. There may be some unseen
benefits behind this policy but what is quite obvious is that it
undercuts the economic interests of Iran¡¯s neighbours and
strengthens economic cooperation of Iran with the neighbours¡¯
neighbours.

It is not a novel concept. Some five thousand years ago a well-known
sage from the Indian subcontinent first advocated this policy as a
sound advice to the kings.

A case in point is the natural gas pipeline proposals for India. Two
parallel proposals ¨C Trans-Afghan Pipeline (TAP) and
Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline are under consideration to meet
the energy needs of India.

Even though President Khatemi, answering one of my questions during
his visit to Turkmenistan in 2002, said, ¡°Iran would welcome both
[TAP and IPI],¡± Iran acted otherwise.

When I posed a joint question to President Khatemi and President
Niyazov that is it practicable to lay both the pipelines, Khatemi
said, ¡°Iran supports any proposals that would help Turkmenistan tap
the full potential of its natural resources. Not only that, we shall
do all we can to help promote this project [TAP].¡±

The later developments showed that Khatemi was merely being polite.

Despite the fact that both the TAP and IPI would not be enough to
meet the fast growing requirements of expanding Indian economy, Iran
turned a number of loops to persuade India to go for IPI only.

This is obviously to India¡¯s disadvantage.

Iran would provide natural gas to India from its South Pars field in
the gulf. The gas from Pars has no more than 60% of Methane content,
the main ingredient of natural gas that gives heat energy and
consequently the only ingredient that matters to the consumers.

On the other hand, Turkmenistan¡¯s Daulatabat field, that is
available for TAP, offers 75-80% Methane content.

Price of the natural gas is determined in MMBTU ¨C ability of the gas
to produce heat energy.

Gas with 60% Methane content would cost much less in the open market
compared to the gas with 75-80% Methane content. In other words,
Iranian gas should be priced at some 15-18% less than Turkmen gas.
However, according to the last reports, Iran is trying to convince
India to buy its gas at US $ 65/- per 1000 cubic meters. It is not
clear whether this price is at the border of Iran or elsewhere. If
this price is at the Iran-Pakistan border, India would be well
advised to give second thought to the deal because Turkmen gas, with
its far superior Methane content, can be made available at much less
price in terms of MMBTU.

Another factor to keep in mind is the transit costs. Transit of
natural gas on the level terrain comes to something like US $ 1/- per
100 kilometers per 1000 cubic meters. Transit cost for under-water
pipeline, as would be the case with IPI, is substantially more than
that because of maintenance charges and repair costs.
Field-to-kitchen distance for Pars gas would be more than Turkmen
gas, adding to the transit cost and ultimately putting additional
burden on the consumers.

In all honesty, India needs both the pipelines. At present the
demand-supply gap of natural gas in India is around 43 billion cubic
meters per annum. This would go up to 65 billion cubic meters
annually by 2008. Combined capacity of TAP and IPI would be 60
billion cubic meters, still leaving a gap of 5 billion cubic meters
between demand and supply projections for 2008.

Playing with Turkmenistan¡¯s interests is not the only example of
Iran¡¯s Sandwich Policy.

Recently, when President Saakashvilli visited Iran, he got a firm
promise that Iran would provide natural gas to Georgia. This was
despite the fact that at present there is no pipe connection to
transport Iranian gas to Georgia and Russia is the main supplier of
gas to Georgia, a supplier that has been pumping gas almost regularly
event though Georgia has been unable to clear the backlog of
payments.

The foghorn called Saakashvilli returned to Tbilisi and started
inciting ¡®every Georgian family¡¯ to rise against Russian presence
in some regions of Georgia. The immediate result, as of Sunday
evening, was that Russia has cut off the supplies of gas to Georgia,
plunging the whole country into economic chaos.

By making moves that are not rooted in reality, Iran managed to anger
Russia, its staunchest supporter in its nuclear programme, and put a
fledgling country ruled by a vapor-whistle into deep economic crisis.
One wonders if Iran realizes what it is doing.

There are many more examples of Iranian Sandwich Policy.

Azerbijan is the next-door neighbour of Iran and more Azeris are
living in Iran than in Azerbijan. Moreover, Azeris are Shias, the
same Islamic sect as the official religion of Iran. And yet, Iran
continues to antagonize Azerbijan and prefer to improve relations
with Armenia, a neighbour of Azerbijan that has annexed
Ngorno-Karabakh region by force and continues to harass Azerbijan
continuously.

Iran signed a transportation network agreement with Afghanistan,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan last year that is meant to bypass
Turkmenistan for road trade route between Iran and Central Asia. This
is despite the fact that Turkmenistan has joined hands with Iran in
building a water dam-reservoir and continues to support Iran in
Caspian issues and other matters where Iran lacks substantial
international support.

At times it appears that economic planners of Iran are totally
unaware of obtaining political realities and they also seem unaware
of the fact that a US-led ¡®war against terrorism¡¯ is slowly rolling
in their direction. It is the classic case of split personality, two
governments in one country.

To weather successfully the times of war, it is necessary to maintain
good relations with neighbours in times of peace.¡ñ

The writer is Ashgabat, Turkmenistan-based journalist, noted analyst
and the Editor of a regional news agency, News Central Asia Inc.
(nCa) He is also a regular contributor to ‘Pakistan Times.’
E-Mail: [email protected]

Armenian “Journey Through Dance” at New York’s Lincoln Center

Date: 7/6/2004

AGBU
Contact: AGBU Press Office
Phone: 212.319.6383
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]

New York-Over a thousand people attended AGBU Antranig Dance
Ensemble’s latest dance performance, “Journey Through Dance”, at New
York’s Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on Saturday, June 5th, 2004.

The presentation was particularly special for Antranig’s dancers and
staff as it commemorated the troupe’s 35th Anniversary. After many
decades of entertaining, Armenian and non-Armenian Antranig devotees
continue to enjoy the display of colorful folk costumes and
traditional choreography.

The opening number, “Hayastan”, overflowed with bright and flowing
colors, and incorporated a burst of energetic sword dueling among the
male dancers. The variety of dance presented in the program was
especially striking. Ethnographic dances from historic Armenian
regions have always been a staple of the Antranig repertoire, but this
year they included a rare dance from the “Hamshen” area.

Over sixty youth from the Hye Bar Dance Group of the Armenian Church
of the Holy Martyrs, under the direction of Rita Kizakian, and the
Hamazkayin Society of New Jersey also performed two pieces, “Lorgeh”
and “Azgagragan”.

The evening concluded with an enthusiastic finale of “Der
Voghormya/Avarayr” by the Antranig dancers, which brought to life the
meaning of the ancient devotional prayer special to Armenians around
the world.

Although many helped to make “Journey Through Dance” possible, it was
the creativitiy and choreography of Yerevan-native Gagik Karapetian,
and Artistic Director Joyce Tamesian-Shenloogian that were seminal in
realizing the production.

Established in 1970, AGBU Antranig Dance Ensemble consists of young
Armenian men and women who are devoted to celebrating dance as part of
the Armenian heritage.

As a result of the overwhelming response from the Lincoln Center
audience, plans are underway for encore presentations of “Journey
Through Dance” in New York as early as Fall 2004 with a possible tour
to other cities. For more information on Antranig, please visit
or call Vicky Sarkisian at 845.658.8712.

Russia, Ex-Soviet States Rebuke Democracy Watchdog

8 July 2004

VIENNA, Austria (Reuters) – Russia and eight other ex-Soviet states accused
Europe’s biggest security and human rights watchdog Thursday of failing to
respect their sovereignty.

The 55-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),
whose activities include monitoring elections, has chided former the Soviet
states for ballots it says failed to live up to democratic standards.

“In part (the OSCE) does not respect such fundamental principles … as
non-interference in internal affairs and respect of national sovereignty,”
said a statement signed by Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

Russia has long complained of double standards at the OSCE, which it says
criticizes human rights and democracy failings east of Vienna, where the
organization is based, but does not denounce similar shortcomings to the
west.

Of the OSCE’s 18 field activities, 12 are in the former Soviet Union.

The OSCE said Russia’s presidential election in March was well administered
but fell short of democratic standards, particularly where the state media
was concerned.

President Vladimir Putin swept to a second term with 71 percent of votes in
that election.

“It is of concern that OSCE field missions focus not on their mandated role
to help the authorities of the receiving state …, but exclusively on
monitoring human rights and democratic institutions,” the CIS statement
added.

The European Union issued a statement expressing its “serious concern” at
some of the CIS states’ comments. (Additional reporting by Richard Ayton in
Moscow)

USA Today
July 2, 2004

Where Britney met Kevin (and destiny)

By William Keck, USA TODAY

HOLLYWOOD – It’s the place where Britney Spears met fiancé Kevin
Federline and where you can get lamb souvlaki with a side of rice
pilaf for just $16.

This is the place, in Hollywood, where Britney met her fiancé.
By Amedeo Buhler

Located in the heart of Tinseltown, the Mediterranean-themed Joseph’s
Café has been attracting Hollywood elite since it was opened by the
Armenian/Greek Abrahamian family in 1977.

Joseph’s brother (and co-owner), Robert Abrahamian, showed USA TODAY
the famous “Britney” booth next to the dance floor. In the new People,
Spears says of Joseph’s: “I always sit at the same table. On the far
right. In the corner, where I can see everything.” And that’s where
she spied Federline.

“Britney Spears is really down to earth,” Abrahamian says. “Sometimes
she’ll have one or two bodyguards with her because of the
paparazzi. She’ll come in with friends, have a few drinks and get up
and dance.”

Abrahamian says there has been a lot more to see since his supper club
was given a cobalt blue/dark wood/wrought-iron face lift and
entertainment was added in 2000. Since then, the clientele is “a
regular who’s who,” he says.

Spears’ ex, Justin Timberlake, and his current steady, Cameron Diaz,
have been part of the action, and Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg and Vince
Vaughn are regulars. Janet Jackson chose Joseph’s for one of her
birthday bashes.

In a month, Britney’s dining room will be given a Moroccan makeover to
provide an even more romantic setting.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
July 1 2004

AZERBAIJAN, COUNCIL OF EUROPE: COOPERATION EXPANDS SUCCESSFULLY
PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVES SECRETARY GENERAL OF
PACE
[July 01, 2004, 20:07:55]

President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev on 1 July received at
the President Palace Secretary General of PACE Mr. Bruno Haller.

Reminding his activity in the Council of Europe with deep pleasure,
President Ilham Aliyev said that cooperation between this structure
and Azerbaijan is going successfully. Noting that after Azerbaijan
became full member of the Council of Europe, the relations have
strengthened and stressed special role of Bruno Haller as the
Secretary General.

President Ilham Aliyev stated that after becoming the EC member,
Azerbaijan has made huge steps in modern democratic state building
and the Country successfully fulfills the obligations taken before
the Council of Europe and joined a number of the international
conventions of great significance. Reminding his last visit to
Strasbourg, President of Azerbaijan thanked to the EC management for
high organization of the visit. Head of Azerbaijan State with delight
reminded the meeting during which he was presented honorary diploma
and medal of PACE and stated that cooperation with the Council of
Europe would be further continues.

Mr. Bruno Haller said that he is still under the impression of their
joint activity in the Council of Europe and thanked to the Azerbaijan
President for effective work in this Organization. He gave detailed
information on the meetings he had had in Baku, noting that concrete
questions were discussed to further develop the cooperation links.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, Mr.
Bruno Haller highly assessed the efforts Azerbaijan President makes
for settlement of the problem. The Council of Europe, in turn, will
increase its efforts in this direction, Mr. Haller said.

Also discussed were other questions of mutual interest.

Head of the law enforcement management department of the President
Administration Fuad Alaskarov, head of the Azerbaijan parliamentary
delegation at pace Samad Seyidov attended the meeting.

Journal Times Online, WI
June 28 2004

It’s all in the family at the annual Armenian Picnic
By Phyllis Sides

RACINE – It was a family affair at St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic
Church annual Madagh picnic Sunday at H.F. Johnson Park.

The picnic is like a family reunion: Anybody who has a connection to
St. Hagop comes back to Racine for it, picnic chairman Zohrab
Khaligian said.

“People come from all over,” said Khaligian, who has been chairman
about five years. “It’s very enjoyable and rewarding. There are
non-Armenians who have come so many times they are part of the
extended family.”

Agnes Garabedian from Downey, Calif., started coming to the picnic
about 15 years ago after meeting her “cousin,” Lucy Buchaklian.

“I met her on an airplane in 1971,” Garabedian said. “We were going
on a pilgrimage. We became friends and we’ve been cousins ever
since.”

All Armenians are cousins, Buchaklian added: “I told her if she
didn’t come to the picnic I wouldn’t visit her

anymore.”

St. Hagop’s has held their traditional Madagh picnic since 1938. The
traditional meal, bulgur pilaf and beef stew, is cooked over an open
fire pit in the park.

Preparing the traditional meal is a two-day affair. The pit is dug
and the fire is started Saturday evening so cooking can start at
about 5 a.m. Sunday. They have to start early so the food will be
ready by 11 a.m. for the blessing of the meal, said Andy Mikaelian,
one of the cooks.

“I’ve been at the park since 5 to 5,” Mikaelian said. “We use about
800 pounds of beef, 150 pounds of onions, special spices, tomato
sauce, tomato paste and we cook it until it’s ready.

“There is no recipe. It’s just to taste.”

“There were at least two generations of cooks helping prepare the
meal,” Khaligian said. “We want to keep the tradition going. It’s
important to maintain our cultural heritage and national identity.”

The meal is served after the blessing and it is shared with everyone
who attends the picnic. In addition to the Madagh meal, the picnic
features marinated shish kebab and chicken dinners, sarma (stuffed
grape leaves), pastries and other delicacies.

Madagh means offering and the tradition came over from the old
country, Sara Mikaelian said. The tradition dates back to biblical
times to Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his only son.

“It’s a thank you for our bounty,” she said. “We are the only
community in the country that carries on the tradition this way.

“The food is passed out to the congregation and the public. In the
old country it was passed out to orphanages and old folks’ homes.”

The Rev. Arsen Kassabian said the traditional food and the blessing
were symbols of Abraham’s sacrifice and of Christ’s sacrifice.

KINDERGARTEN IN AKANABERD

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
June 25 2003

The isolated Artsakh branch of the Armenian Relief Society implements
programs of building and sponsoring kindergartens. The first ARS
kindergarten was opened in 1998. Recently a kindergarten was opened in
the village Akanaberd, Shahoumian region in the memory of the deceased
father Hakob Ashgalian of the director of the friend offices of ARS
Sona Tsnstalian. An investment of 3.5 million drams has been made for
the construction of the comfortable building of the kindergarten. Today
35 children attend the kindergarten. The newly-opened kindergarten of
Akanaberd is the ninth ARS “Soseh” kindergarten in the republic.

LAURA GRIGORIAN.
25-06-2004

Armenian ministry blames border tension on water reservoir

Arminfo
24 Jun 04

YEREVAN

The Armenian Defence Ministry has described as absurd the report in
the Baku-based Zerkalo newspaper that Armenian snipers have killed
Azerbaijani army officers.

The press secretary of the Armenian defence minister, Col Seyran
Shakhsuvaryan, has told an Arminfo correspondent that the tension on
the contact line of the armed forces between Armenia’s Tavush Region
and Azerbaijan’s Qazax District emerged after the Azerbaijani side
attempted to seize the pump station which supplies Armenian border
villages with drinking water. At the same time, the press secretary
roundly denied reports that “the Azerbaijani side has improved its
positions”. “They are where they were,” Col Shakhsuvaryan said.

Apart from this, reports about “numerous casualties on the Armenian
side” do not correspond to reality. “The Armenian side recently lost
two people, and this was reported,” the press secretary said.

He also said that the Azerbaijani village and road mentioned in the
report are located in a different place. Seyran Shakhsuvaryan also
denied that the road had come under fire.

Commenting on the Azerbaijani casualties, the press secretary did not
rule out that servicemen could have fallen victim to internal
clashes. The ministry’s press secretary also said that the Armenian
side had no information about the killing of Azerbaijani officer
Teymur Panahov.

[Passage omitted: quotes from Zerkalo report]

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
June 25, 2004, Friday

ARMENIAN SNIPER SHOOTS DOWN AZERBAIJANI OFFICER

On June 22, 7.30 a.m., an Armenian sniper shot down a lieutenant of
the Azerbaijani Army Teimur Panakhov on the Armenian-Azerbaijani
frontline near the village Dashsalakhly, the Gazakh district. The
press service of the Defense Ministry confirmed the death of the
officer. The lieutenant had received a lethal injury to his head. The
victim’s relatives said that the officer had been killed as he tried
to shield his soldiers. (…) According to unofficial data,
skirmishes in Dashsalakhly have been going on and off for two odd
weeks. Several military men have been killed lately in the Gazakh
district.

Source: News agency Turan (Baku), 23.06.2004

Armenian official denies government to take drastic steps to ease tension

Aykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan
8 Jun 04

Text of Vaagn Ovakimyan’s report by Armenian newspaper Aykakan Zhamanak
on 8 June headlined “Only consistent political processes”

An interview with the head of the Armenian president’s administration,
Artashes Tumanyan.

Aykakan Zhamanak correspondent Mr Tumanyan, how do you assess today’s
domestic political situation in Armenia?

Artashes Tumanyan I do not want to analyse it deeply because time will
give the assessment. The situation in authorities-opposition relations
worries me most of all. But it is not the whole domestic political
situation. When speaking about the domestic political situation,
I do not understand only authorities-opposition relations. It is
a more complex layer: public mood is important, tendencies in the
public opinion. But these relations, which are at the surface, are
the matter of the biggest concern.

Correspondent About two weeks ago, Chairman of the National Assembly
Artur Bagdasaryan announced from the rostrum of the Council of Europe
that anti-democratic forces should go. Do you not worry that by means
of this kind of statement, he is trying to introduce himself to the
world as the next possible power?

Tumanyan I do not know. First, parliamentarians are freer to express
their views than representatives of the executive power. All of
us are aware of shortcomings, everybody can point at problems, but
parliamentarians feel themselves freer.

Now I do not want to give another deeper assessment. I can also say
that there is no fully-fledged democracy in Armenia. Democratic
processes are going through a transition period. Assessments may
differ. Of course, there are often manifestations of authoritarianism,
they can also be explained. It is no secret that Armenia is not a
fully-fledged democratic country.

Correspondent How realistic are the rumours that the parliament will
be dissolved and a new government will be formed by the autumn?

Tumanyan I am not aware of a decision made at the top power level which
may lead to dissolving the parliament or replacing the prime minister.

Correspondent Do you not think that if the parliament is dissolved,
the current domestic political tension could be relieved and society
could achieve the expected changes?

Tumanyan I cannot say if we need such drastic changes. Even if
the president of the republic and the ruling political forces
think that they should be radical in their constructive work and
non-personnel-related policy, and even if they are strong enough
to do so, they would not resort to such drastic steps. I do not
think that such radical measures will be planned or implemented this
year. As far as I know, the political leadership of the republic is
more inclined to pursue consistent political processes over the next
years. Efforts are being made in this direction. Time will show what
will really take place.