Author: Karakhanian Suren

Daily Bruin
Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Nations must take action to end cycle of genocide

By Raffi Kassabian

At the Jan. 27 ceremonies for the 60th anniversary of the liberation of
Auschwitz, the prevalent reaction was “never again.” And yet we still
continue to see genocide occurring today, most notably in Darfur, Sudan.

The systematic annihilation and displacement of millions of Sudanese in
Darfur is nothing less than a part of the repetitious cycle of
systematic genocide that continues to haunt the world community to this
day.

How can today’s governments stand by while groups of people in the world
are subject to targeted extinction policies? How can the United States
send its sons and daughters into battle exclaiming that democracy and
freedom in Iraq are worth their lives, yet ignore those very same
principles in another situation?

Darfur demands a similar sacrifice, but the determination of engagement
is conspicuously absent when addressing this crisis.

Over 1.5 million Armenians were systematically executed, raped and
deported by the Ottoman Empire in what is acknowledged as one of the
first genocides of the 20th century. Volumes of academic research on the
subject are accompanied by acknowledgments by genocide scholar societies
as well as proclamations by numerous countries and state governments.

But the United States, a country that continually unfurls the banner of
ethical and moral values to justify the pursuit of domestic as well as
foreign policy agendas, has yet to come to terms with the Armenian
Genocide and join the world in admitting, let alone seeking justice for,
this crime against humanity.

Instead, in deference to the Republic of Turkey, an alleged “strategic
partner and NATO ally,” according to the U.S. Agency for International
Development, the United States has avoided facing the Armenian Genocide.

The threats of limited access to NATO bases and the loss of military or
other business contracts is apparently enough for the United States to
drop the ethical banner in this particular case and pick up the pennant
of obscure “national interests” excuses.

Until there is an equitable pursuit of justice, we are left to fight not
one battle, but two. Not only must we fight to prevent crimes against
humanity, but we must also fight the denial of such crimes. In doing so
we can ensure that we are combating the recurring cycle of genocides.

The citizens in Darfur cry for their justice. Their government has
failed to protect their lives, families and homes, but instead has
instigated or even organized those responsible for murdering and
dislocating them.

For nearly 90 years, successive Turkish governments have actively denied
the Armenian Genocide. It is their hope to absolve themselves of any
punitive measures that are a natural part of the process of justice for
this crime.

Because the Turkish government has not been held accountable for its
crimes against humanity in the past, the government has been able to
continue human rights abuses into the present day. It stifles the lives
and tramples on the rights of its minorities.

Turkey is noted for having some of the highest numbers of imprisoned
journalists, and it continually strikes down – via legal or brute
tactics – those who question the fallibility of the state. The Turkish
government wants to intimidate its own citizens into silence or
self-censorship on issues like the Armenian Genocide.

The world continues to turn a blind eye out of convenience and enables
this behavior of the Turkish government, facilitating what I call the
“Campaign of Silence.”

When the United States and governments worldwide behave in such a
manner, is it any wonder why “never again” sounds so hollow? Is it any
wonder that after 1915, there was a 1938? Is it any wonder that the
Armenians were followed by Cambodians, Rwandans and now the citizens of
Darfur?

The silence continues today because we as human beings have not come to
terms with our past. We have turned the other cheek because it is easier
than seeking justice.

Adolf Hitler proclaimed to the Nazi Army before invading Poland, “Who,
after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” Will we
finally learn to consistently apply American values to our national
interests – recognizing everyone’s rights to a pursuit of happiness,
freedom and self-determination?

Or will the next genocidal government say, “Who, after all, speaks today
of the annihilation of the people of Darfur?”

————————————————————————
Kassabian is a fourth-year political science and communication studies
student.

KVBC TV, NV
Jan 28 2005

Sisters Could be Separated From Family in America

Maria Silva Reporting

They’re not a threat to national security, but federal immigration
authorities have two teenage sisters in custody and want to send them
back to their home country of Armenia . But their family is here, and
now thanks to the media and Senator Harry Reid, their struggle is
attracting national attention.

The Sarkisian sisters are used to helping around their father’s pizza
shop, but for the past couple weeks work has been especially
difficult. “My dad, he’s just going crazy. He doesn’t eat, sleep. He
can’t do anything anymore.” For the past 12-days, the girl’s two
older sisters, Emma and Miriam have been in custody — locked up,
waiting possible deportation to their home country of Armenia .

“I love my sisters. And I really miss them. And I want them to come
back.”

The younger girls were born here in the U.S. , but Emma and Miriam
were not. Their father has become a legal resident, but while trying
to comply with American laws, he says the teenagers were arrested by
federal authorities. The youngest sister, Patricia doesn’t quite
understand the details, but knows her family is at risk of being torn
apart.

“Cause how would the immigration people feel if they took their kids
— and put them in the holding cell.”

While we were conducting our interview, Emma called from her jail
cell. It was a brief conversation that consisted of mostly tears.

“Okay. Bye I love you.”

Now, the girl’s only hope may lie with high power politicians. Like
Nevada senator, Harry Reid who is pleading with the Department of
Homeland Security.

“I think secretary Ridge will find a way to keep these two young
women in Nevada .” Meantime, the family is doing what they can to
stay busy, praying the ordeal will end soon. So the family can be a
family, once again.

I did get to speak to Emma — the oldest sister on the phone. She was
calling from her jail cell. She was crying and scared. She says the
hardest part is not knowing when they’ll be able to come home — if
at all. Right now they are waiting for a decision from a federal
magistrate.

SOME POLITICAL EXPERTS DID NOT UNDERSTAND AMBASSADOR EVANS’ SPEECH

Azg/arm
26 Jan 05

Though, John Evans, US ambassador to Armenia, repeated for five times
in the course of the interview given to Armenia TV that the Assistant
of the US State Secretary didn’t call the NKR authorities “criminal
elements” and the American lady has personally called Vartan Oskanian,
RA foreign minister, and assured that she didn’t mean Nagorno Karabakh
and its authorities by saying”criminal separatists,” the Armenian
press and the TV continued the “anti-Johns” hysteria on Saturday and
Sunday.

It turns out that the denials given by ambassadors Evans and Johns are
of no great importance for some Armenian political experts and
journalists. The point is that they are speaking of the words the
American lady didnâ=80=99t even say. Our local newspapers published
the analytical articles of the political experts instead of publishing
the interview give by Evans.

Aram Sargsian was the most serious among them. According to Haykakan
Zhamanak, Sargsian stated that if the Armenian authorities make no
conclusions of the statement made by Johns, there can be very
complicated consequences. He predicted that one day RA authorities
might flee from Armenia, one day theymay wake up and see that they are
not in Armenia any longer, they have escaped from fear.

Stepan Gevorgian, political expert, pointed out in Aravot, that the
statement made by the American lady should be observed “in the context
of the consequences occurred as a result of the wrong foreign policy
conducted by RA authorities.” Hrant Khachatrian, leader of Union of
National Self-Determination, that used to be fed by the sources
received from Karabakh, said: “The very regime of Armenia was
described as that of the separatists and the criminals,” as “everybody
knows that we can’t lie that NKR is out of Armeniaâ=80=99s control in
some aspect.”

The Second Glance program over Shant TV was the most exciting one. It
was broadcasted on Sunday evening, i.e. 2 days later the denial of
Evans and Johns. Some of the guests of the program pretended that
they don’t understand anything. For instance, Sergey Shaqariants,
political expert, expressed theopinion that Johns is carrying out the
policy of the US State Department, while Aghasi Yenoqian called the
NKR authorities criminal and corrupted, because the opposition won the
latest elections for the local administration bodies.

Suren Zolian also showed his unawareness, saying that, in fact, the US
State Department recognized Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity by
spreading the January 18 statement. Afterwards, when a student asked
how could Mrs. Johnssay such a thing on days of sending forces to
Iraq, Shaqariants, political expert, responded: “Perhaps, that was the
way the US thanked us. Yenoqian observed the statement made by the
American lady (in fact, the things she didn’tsay) in the context of
the coming meeting between Bush and Putin.

While, some of the newspapers couldn’t help admiration and joy in the
articles they issued. Even the Azeri press was not that delighted for
the “criminal elements” word combination. One of the newspapers was no
excited by these words that they even remembered the prediction of
Vano Siradeghian, saying that Robert Kocharian should be passed to the
International Court in Hague.

The press of the AAM (All Armenian Movement) and of the former
authorities were also delighted. The position of the authorities was
queer, as the local administration bodies, doctors, intelligentsia
gathered against the American by their assistance. The Public TV
worked well on those days, highlighting the arrangements reminding of
the Communist times.

The Azeri press didn’t touch upon the American lady’s statements that
much. The game between Nevtchi-Pyunik and the victory of the Baku
team were in the center of the attention on those days. The official
Baku echoed the events on January 22, after the denial of ambassadors
Evans and Johns. Araz Azimov, Azeri deputy foreign minister, said in
the interview to ANS TV: “I think that Mrs. Johns’ statement was
objective and corresponded to the reality.” Asfor the statement of
Oskanian, saying that Johns personally called him and explained the
situation, Azimov said that it is a mere PR step and advised the
journalists not to pay attention to the statements made by RA foreign
minister and treat then less seriously.

By Tatoul Hakobian

Canada NewsWire (press release), Canada
Jan 24 2005

Fairouz in Concert

MONTREAL, Jan. 24 /CNW Telbec/ – Fairouz, the Lebanese Diva of Arabic
music will be in Montreal on February 12 and 13, 2005 to present two
exceptional concerts at Place des Arts, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier.

On her third visit to Montreal, 50 musicians of international fame,
conducted by Maestro Karen Durgaryan will accompany Fairouz. Mr.
Durgaryan has directed the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and the
Symphonic Orchestra of Yerevan, to high levels of success and
perfection, and has equally worked with Fairouz in her concerts in the
Middle East, adding to her wide and varied repertoire even more
refinement. Fairouz’s repertoire is constantly evolving, whether it’s
ballads and classic songs composed by the Rahbani Brothers, or
oriental jazz flavours of her son, the great composer, Ziad Rahbani.

Karen Durgaryan has recently accompanied Fairouz in her concerts,
where he was capable of bringing Western harmony to the varied music
styles and melodies performed by Fairouz. The program for the Montreal
concerts marries a marvelous mix of classic and modern songs with a
mélange of western and eastern orchestrations that stay away from the
oft-used concept of fusion. What the audience will experience with
Fairouz is a musical extravaganza of the best kind.

Fairouz in concert is not just music and performance, but the
heavenly and unique voice of the mythical Diva. It’s the Rahbani
Brothers entire wealth and power of music and the improvisational
talents of Ziad Rahbani. It’s the orchestra, the chorale, the quality
of the sound and the lighting systems. It’s a winning rendez vous
with happiness and a moment of absolute musical ecstasy to be
cherished forever.

For further information: Media Relations: John Asfour,
[email protected]; Source: Media Centre – Founoun, (514) 334-0909,

US official apologizes for Karabakh remarks – Armenian minister

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
21 Jan 05

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has said that US Assistant
State Secretary Elizabeth Jones has apologized for her recent remarks
describing breakaway Nagornyy Karabakh as a criminal separatist
regime. In his interview with Armenian television, Oskanyan said he
had a telephone conversation with Jones and she called her statement a
“misunderstanding”. Oskanyan also praised the Armenian public for
protesting against the statement and called on it to calm down and
consider the issue to be closed. The following is the text of report
by Armenian Public TV on 21 January. Subheadings have been inserted
editorially:

[Presenter] Mr Oskanyan, you signed a memorandum of understanding
between the secretariat of the Arab League [the League of Arab States]
and Armenia in Cairo. At the same time, US Assistant Secretary of
State Elizabeth Jones made her well-known statement. What is your
attitude to it?

“Apology”

[Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan] You know, I was watching
the developments from Cairo. But when I came back and read the press,
I saw that our people had expressed a strong protest at that
statement. I was positively surprised at all this and naturally, this
is the way it should be. Because it was an accusation that can never
be accepted. These protests had to be expressed and I consider them
normal.

The cause of the public outcry was the content of the article
presented to the people by the media. I consider the contents of the
information presented to be normal, too, because I can say, summing up
Jones’s statement, that based on that statement, the contents of the
articles presented to our people cannot have been different. Because
that statement was indeed ambiguous. Although the points in the
general accusation cannot apply to Karabakh, on the other hand, this
statement does not rule out Karabakh either. This is where the
ambiguity lies. The fact that the statement did not rule out Karabakh
and that the accusation was strong and used the term criminal
separatists gave us grounds to express a strong protest.

I had a telephone conversation with Elizabeth Jones about half an hour
ago. It was her initiative to call me. Now I can tell you what
exactly she said. I asked her if I could tell our public what you
said, she said yes. She said – I apologize for the misunderstanding on
my part. I assure you that I did not and could not mean Nagornyy
Karabakh by using the term criminal separatists. I apologize for that.

I think we have to calm down after this phone call and consider the
issue to be closed. If we give it a closer look, we can see that it
could not have been otherwise.

It is true that the statement was ambiguous and caused doubts as to
what really happened. But on the other hand, taking into consideration
that the USA is involved in the process [of settling the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict], has had a stable position for these years, issued
neutral statements to date and that the US Congress gives Nagornyy
Karabakh 15m dollars in aid every year, I was feeling that there was a
kind of misunderstanding involved. I welcome and appreciate the fact
that Jones had the courage to apologize for it.

Arab world “important”

As for the Arab League, I told your TV channel in Cairo that it is a
historic event. Although we only signed a memorandum of understanding,
it can be assessed as the start of the development of our relations in
the future. It is historic because this understanding reflects the
glorious history of the Armenian and Arab peoples and their
friendship. Today we already have a chance to build relations not only
with individual Arab states, but also with the entity that unites
them. In turn, this opens up long-term opportunities for deepening and
developing our relations with Arab states in the future.

The Arab world is important to us and we have Armenian communities
there. As you may know, we have been lately involved in the Iraq
issue, too, and we have our own position on the Palestinian issue as
we support its independence. The position of Arab states on the
Nagornyy Karabakh issue is also of importance to us. We also cooperate
with them within international organizations. So this memorandum opens
up opportunities for us to work efficiently with this centre [the Arab
League], to raise our problems there and help each other in an
atmosphere of cooperation.

Holocaust and Armenian genocide

[Presenter] Mr Oskanyan, you are expected to visit the USA on 24
January to take part in the special UN session dedicated to the 60th
anniversary of the liberation of prisoners of war in the Second World
War. What will be the topic of your speech there?

[Oskanyan] I should say that it is a historic event, too. It is the
60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. It will be marked in
a special UN session. The fact that a representative of Armenia,
i.e. its foreign minister, will take part in it is already a political
position in itself. It is our moral duty to be there and have our
say. Auschwitz is the embodiment of the Holocaust, which is related to
Hitler. Hitler’s famous statement – who remembers the Armenian
genocide today – is related to the Holocaust.

Genocide is a topical issue in international politics. We can neither
mark the Holocaust justly, nor speak about preventing future cases of
genocide without going back to the recognition of the first genocide
of the 20th century and talking about it. The gist of my address will
be the following: genocide can be prevented through condemning and
recognizing it.

Good relations with Italy

I will travel to Rome after New York and will join our president
[Robert Kocharyan]. He will start his official visit to Italy on 27
January. It is also important, since it will be the president’s first
official visit to Italy in seven years. We have quite good relations
with Italy. I believe that this visit will strengthen our relations
with that country, especially in the sphere of the economy and small
and medium-sized businesses. The dialogue between Armenia and Italy is
developing within the framework of the EU, especially its New
Neighbourhood Programme.

RECENT STATEMENTS OF US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE ELIZABETH JONES
PLAY INTO HANDS OF AZERBAIJAN: ARMENIAN MP

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19. ARMINFO. The recent statements of US Assistant
Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones play into hands of Azerbaijan, said
Representative of the ARFD Supreme Body, Head of the Permanent
Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Relations, MP Armen Roustamyan,
Tuesday.

It should be noted that Elizabeth Jones made a statement recently,
wherein she said that it is within the interest of Russia that the
Dniester region, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorny Karabakh be
stable and uncorrupted and that the criminal separatists regimes
ruling there be liquidated.

Armen Roustamyan said that the US state official must respect the
whole way passed towards resolution of Karabakh conflict, attentively
study it and understand that the conflict in Karabakh and those in
Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Dniester region are quite different. What
Elizabeth Jones said is a good present for those politicians of
Azerbaijan who try to live the year 2005 under militarist flags,
threatening with war and speaking with ultimatums, the Armenian MP
said.

The same day, Hay Dat Office make condemnations of Elizabeth Jones’
statements and pointed out that it will demand the US executive power
to correct the disrespectful statements of its official.

Armenia wants to disrupt Council of Europe report on breakaway region – TV

ANS TV, Baku
16 Jan 05

[Presenter] Azerbaijan and Armenia will again stand face to face on 25
January at the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe [PACE] in Strasbourg. It is worth saying that the
most successful moments of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh diplomacy are related
to the work done at this council. Baku has achieved some significant
progress to boast of here which, at first sight, can be seen as devoid
of important mechanisms to influence the resolution of the problem
[Nagornyy Karabakh conflict]. Multifaceted ongoing initiatives of the
Armenians and their efforts to use everyone and everything prove that
Yerevan will try at least not to lose in Strasbourg.

[Passage omitted: background information given as reference on screen]

[Correspondent, over video of CE building in Strasbourg, CE sessions]
This time the front-line is Strasbourg and the opposing forces are
parliamentarians. Our MPs together with their counterparts from
occupying Armenia will join the hearings on the Nagornyy Karabakh
issue at the winter session of the PACE in this French city on 25
January. The debates will certainly be very strenuous. The report by
the PACE rapporteur on Nagornyy Karabakh, David Atkinson, which will
be presented for hearings, and the draft resolution that will be
passed have caused hot debates in the media of the two countries for
nearly two months. There are many aspects that are in Azerbaijan’s
interests in the text of the report. From this viewpoint, the
Armenians are trying to disrupt its discussion by mobilizing all their
forces. The Armenians had some insignificant changes made to the
report when it was discussed at the political committee of the PACE in
November. The Azerbaijani side tentatively predicts what points
Armenia will heed at the discussions on 25 January.

[Gultakin Haciyeva, member of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE,
captioned, shown speaking to ANS] The first point is that they are
planning to make changes to the document, that Azerbaijani territories
were occupied not by Armenia’s armed formations, but by local Armenian
military formations [in Nagornyy Karabakh]. The main argument the
Armenians are putting forward is that this wording was used in the
resolutions issued by the UN Security Council.

[Correspondent] Haciyeva said the Azerbaijani delegation is going to
the session with specific facts and documents testifying to Armenia’s
aggression against Azerbaijan. She said Azerbaijan has a number of
proposals to the draft resolution, as well, but it won’t disclose them
yet in order not to give Armenia ammunition.

Armenia is also seriously bracing itself for the
discussions. Unofficial information says that the foreign minister of
the occupying country, Vardan Oskanyan, has made several visits to
London since November to influence English parliamentarians on this
issue. Even, the faithful defender of Armenia’s interests, the former
Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Vladimir Kazimirov, tried
to correct rapporteur Atkinson’s, in inverted commas,” mistakes” last
month.

Although there are many objective points in the draft resolution, it
cannot be considered to be [the basis of] a claim. The document says
that Azerbaijan and Armenia assumed obligations to resolve the
conflict only by peaceful means when they entered the Council of
Europe in January 2001. Taking into consideration the fact that the
negotiations have not produced any results so far, we can say that
this provision restricts Azerbaijan’s right to liberate its occupied
lands by force if the peace talks prove to be sterile. At the same
time, the resolution suggests that the parties go to the international
court if the resolution of the conflict is not possible. But it is
admissible to Azerbaijan. As we know, courts usually consider
disputed issues, while Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity cannot be a
subject of dispute, court or referendum since it was recognized by the
UN and other influential entities. Anyhow, we do not have any good
reason to celebrate yet. Everything will depend on the 25 January test
of our MPs. In other words, he who laughs last has the best laugh.

Azada Balayeva for ANS

RIA Novosti, Russia
Jan 17 2005

ARMENIA’S MILITARY CONTINGENT TO BE SENT TO IRAQ

YEREVAN, January 17 (RIA Novosti) – On Tuesday an Armenian military
contingent will go to Iraq, press officer of the Armenian defense
ministry, Colonel Seiran Shakhsuvaryan, said on Monday.

After eight-hour, closed-doors discussion on December 24, 2004, the
Armenian parliament ratified the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding
on the sending of a contingent of the Armenian armed forces to Iraq.
In line with the memorandum, Armenia will participate in the
humanitarian mission as part of the Polish contingent and will send
46 specialists -ten sappers, 30 drivers, three medics and three
commanders, including one signals specialist.

91 deputies voted for ratification, 23 against it with one
abstention.

Those voting against said that the sending of the Armenian contingent
to Iraq is against the national interests of Armenia, its state
security and poses a threat to the 25,000-strong Armenian community
in Iraq, as well as Armenians residing in Muslim countries.

Armenian party says authorities “too inept” to resolve pressing problems

Arminfo
14 Jan 05

YEREVAN

The atmosphere of impunity and permissiveness in the higher echelons
of power is confirming once again that current Armenian administration
are unable not only to resolve the situation in the country but also
to stop the precipitous recession the country is in, says a statement
by the Political Council of the Democratic Party of Armenia, part of
the Justice bloc, forwarded to Arminfo.

The statement says the unprecedented delays in the payment of salaries
and pensions, the doubled fares on buses which until recently were
considered the most accessible means of public transport, the doubled
tariffs on water and gas, and the price increase on a number of
primary goods have rendered useless the minimal increase in pensions
by 1,000 drams [2 dollars] and are dealing yet another serious blow to
the destitute categories of the population.

Under such circumstances, the guarantor of social well-being of the
population, the Armenian president, is preoccupied with forgiving the
sins of those who have plundered national wealth by concealing 70 per
cent of their real earnings from the state. Instead, tax agencies
focus mainly on small and middle-sized entrepreneurs, not “the market
sharks”, because they still operate under the patronage of the
authorities.

The resulting difficult socioeconomic and moral situation and the
universal violation of the most fundamental human rights are
confirming once again that the Armenian authorities are too inept to
improve the situation in the country.

Under the document, the Democratic Party of Armenia – which remains
faithful to its programme principles based on democratic socialism and
social justice – states that only in the event of implementing the
party’s programme will it possible to carry out social reforms in the
country, form a fair public atmosphere, avoid fresh social shocks and
take the country out of the current crisis, the statement says.

Bush urged to take lead for Mideast peace

Associated Press
1/13/2005

WASHINGTON (AP) – Leaders of Jewish, Christian and Muslim groups want to
meet with President Bush to discuss a renewed role by the United States
in Mideast peace initiatives.

With a newly elected Palestinian leadership and Israel’s plans to
withdraw from Gaza, the United States should take a higher profile role,
said a public appeal to the president signed by the 35 religious leaders.

They were formally announcing their appeal at a news conference Thursday.

Mahmoud Abbas won election Sunday as president of the Palestinian
Authority, succeeding the late Yasser Arafat.

Coordinating with national religious leaders are leaders in more than a
dozen cities. They include Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco,
Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Hartford and New
Haven, Conn., Baltimore, Charlotte and Durham, N.C., and Washington, D.C.

The leaders are asking that Bush:

– Appoint a special presidential envoy with a full-time commitment to
the Mideast. The envoy would coordinate with the European Union, Russian
Federation and the U.N. secretary-general to press for the plan signed
by Israel and the Palestinians in June 2003. It has stalled, with each
side blaming the other for violations of its provisions.

– Negotiate a timetable for specific steps to be taken by the
Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government.

– Take the lead to mobilize increased international economic aid to
build up the Palestinian Authority’s ability to provide security,
deliver humanitarian aid and ensure services the Palestinian people.

The group of religious leaders includes representatives from the Roman
Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Lutheran, Presbyterian and
Episcopal churches; leaders of the Central Conference of American
Rabbis; and leaders of the Secretary-General of the Islamic Society of
North America.