Author: Mamian George

PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN HAS WORKING MEETINGS

ArmenPress
June 7 2004

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian had a
working meeting today with the chairman of the State Water Committee
Andranik Andreasian. Kocharian’s press office said the committee
chairman introduced the president to the ongoing reforms of the
sector and the process of implementation of projects in cooperation
with international organizations.

During another working meeting the president discussed today the
shortcomings and problems reported during special examinations,
set for secondary school graduates, claiming for gold medals, equal
to finishing school with honors. A presidential oversight service
was watching the examinations as observers. Kocharian was quoted by
the press office as saying that there is a range of related issues
that cannot be ignored, especially that in a month time entrance
examinations to state-run universities are set to start.

“All reported shortcomings should be completely eliminated during the
university entrance examinations,” Kocharian was quoted as saying. He
said schools lack proper supervision, and a practice is formed that
disgraces the idea of gold medals. The president said graduation from
secondary school with honors has become a kind of an end in itself
with a prospect of easing the entrance examination to university and
‘this motive” has deformed a lot of things at schools. The president
said his conclusion was based on observations, reported to him by
oversight service.

Vahram Barseghian, the head of the oversight chamber, presented the
facts, shortcomings and other problems of concern, which the service
has identified. He said many of graduates, claiming for gold medals,
failed to confirm their high knowledge of separate school subjects
and also a great number failed to participate in the examinations,
which he said was “an evidence that school principals violate the
principles of choosing graduates, claiming of gold medals.”

Kocharian has instructed the government to consider the issue of
granting graduates with honors privileges during university entrance
examinations.

Russia convicts red flag fan

Moscow, Russia, Jun. 5 (UPI) — A Russian communist has been convicted
of throwing down Russia’s flag and replacing it with the old Soviet
one, the Moscow Times reported Friday.

Armen Beniaminov (a.k.a. Benyaminyan) was convicted in the Tverskoi
district court of desecrating the Russian flag and given a one year
suspended sentence, the paper said.

On Nov. 7, 2003, Beniaminov climbed on to the roof of the State Duma,
the main chamber of the Russian parliament, and threw the Russian
national flag to the ground, prosecutors said. They said he replaced
it with the old Red Flag of the Soviet Union that disintegrated at
the end of 1991.

Beniaminov told the court he respected the new Russian flag, but addedm
“I just wanted to make sure that the authorities do not forget our
history,” the Moscow Times said.

United Press International

Dissident Voice, CA
May 31 2004

Mission Creep: A Force for Global Stability
by Matthew Maavak

Our uncertainties are increasing. The war against Iraq is not abating,
and the intensification of this bloodfest is destabilizing the region
and the global economy. For those who started this war, the cost is
not counted in the numbers of the dead but rather in dollars. We are
swamped with mixed economic reports, uncertain growth prognostications,
ebbing consumer spending and oil prices that keep floating at a
narrow price level marked “high,” despite pledges from OPEC and its
Saudi Arabian fixer that it can light a thousand Aladdin’s lamps for
1001 nights.

The major oil and gas reserves in the Middle East, Central Asia
and Afghanistan can certainly do that, and with ease. It’s just a
coincidence that the US army has cornered this huge, priceless swath
for the “enduring freedom” of its people. The Thieves of Baghdad are
on a roll.

No other region in the world can even attempt to offer a supply
alternative of such scales. All the pipelines leading out of this
region, in every direction, are now under the US sphere of control.
Many pipelines on the drawing board will be redrawn.

It’s also a coincidence that right from the onset, even before 9/11,
President George W. Bush’s team had placed oil and energy at the
forefront of US foreign and domestic policies.

It is yet another coincidence that some imbecile miscalculated along
the way, in the manner affecting the actors below in the following
ways:

Saudi Arabia

In a position to pump more oil at high prices, enriching the Kingdom
in the process. With American soldiers next door, the monarchy’s hand
is strengthened against a restive population, provided they acquiesce
to American demands. They have long played this game well, and the new
terror alerts are not a coincidence as there are lots of petrodollars
flowing into the kingdom right now. As soon as those global terror
alerts sounded, “suspected Al Qaeda” militants killed 17 foreigners in
the oil city of Khobar. You would expect Khobar to be better guarded,
with a history going back to the killing of 19 US soldiers in 1996. The
latest attack didn’t have an effect on Saudi pumps as oil installations
are better protected there than western oil professionals.

As promised by US authorities, there will be an escalation in terror
attacks against America and its allies within and without. Just after
the recent strike, a statement purportedly from Al Qaeda was yet
again posted on “Islamist sites” over the Internet. The tools of the
Patriot Act somehow can’t penetrate the borderless world of cyberspace
to track down the source of these statements while cheap software
can show you the IP address of an email source. This is made easier
in Saudi Arabia, which has a major nodal point to monitor Internet
traffic in and out of the country, a result of its fixation with porn.

When US leaders pillory the Saudi regime as a “breeder of terrorism,”
they have a point but no American president has yet been elected to
put an end to this. Or for that matter any British or Israeli leader,
though, ironically, there are plenty of Arabs and Persians itching
to deal with this “breeder of terrorism.”

Oh yeah, and Bush can’t control the anger of indignant Republicans,
just as he didn’t know the US army would be making a surplus of crazy
snafus in Iraq, when everyone was “sure” of Saddam Hussein’s WMD.

Saudi Arabia is the country that produced 15 of the 19 September 11
hijackers, something the Axis of Warmongers, and their pliant media,
are eager to overlook, except when its time to pressure the Saudi
monarchy.

Israel

Tel Aviv is longing to reopen a colonial era pipeline from Iraq’s
Kirkuk oil fields to the Israeli port of Haifa. The old pipeline was
built by the British in the ’40s and is now in a decrepit state. It
was shut down by neighboring Arab nations after Israel’s war of
independence in 1948. New investments, worth billions, with a brand
new pipeline will solve Israel’s energy needs and meet oil demands from
the Mediterranean region and beyond. Overtures were made to Jordanian
officials a while back to allow a profitable right of passage.

When clinically viewed, a new pipeline would benefit the Arab
countries involved, their oil firms, US oil corporations and Israel.
Ahmad Chalabi had a marked pro-Israel stance and his political stars
should be watched in days to come.

The project is currently unviable as the Arabs would be implacably
hostile to it, unless President George W. Bush’s crusade turns
out to be the mother of all wars, which developing events and his
pseudo-religious mania might make a reality.

Back in 1975, Henry Kissinger had signed a deal to guarantee
Israel much-needed oil in a crisis, and there is a crisis in Israel
every day. Renewed every five years, the deal is backed by special
legislation that requires the US to stock up oil for Israel even if
it “entails domestic shortages.” The deal cost $3 billion (£1.9bn)
in 2002 to US taxpayers. (Guardian, April 20, 2003). You might guess
where some of that reserve oil is going now this summer.

Senator Charles E. Schumer (D- NY) was livid that for “every
penny increase at the pump, $1.36 billion comes out of consumers’
pockets”…while “the administration continues to fill the (US strategic)
reserve with hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil daily despite
the fact that it’s almost 95% full.”

Even Democrats place more premiums on Israeli reserves than domestic
ones.

Why is the United States subsuming its interests to Israel and risking
the wrath of its citizens unless there is a very, very good reason?

Tel Aviv meantime is itching for a fight against the two adversaries
below and not the “breeder of terrorism.”

Iran

Bush or his successor will be “sure” of this nation’s support of
terrorism and their WMD. Watch for more “propatainment,” delivered
blockbuster-style from the US media. Iran has a large reserve of
fossil fuel and is the second largest oil producer in OPEC. It is
the only regional power that can resist American hegemony with
some effect. Militarily, it is completely encircled by the US
army, Pakistan, and a traditionally hostile Saudi Arabia. Iran is
effectively neutralized and new Central Asian pipelines have been
designed to bypass Iran, Syria and Russia. It can no longer use oil as
a weapon although Persians don’t go down that easily without a bloody
fight. Expect another mission creep to follow. Teheran’s position is
severely weakened.

Syria

Bush or his successor will be “sure” of this country’s terror and
WMD infrastructure as well. Doesn’t have the resources of Iran and
will be lucky if it’s only bypassed in any future development. Future
military confrontation likely, with further provocations from Israel,
as Damascus is an unflinching bulwark against long-held US-Israeli
plans for the Middle East.

Syria might likely be included in a new Axis of Evil alongside Iran.
The US is withdrawing 37,000 troops from the Demilitarized Zone
in South Korea, away from a nation that could supposedly nuke the
Californian coast through its Taepodong-2 missiles.

Iraq

Invasion planned long before Sept 11 with an audacity that still hasn’t
sunk into the American public. Till today, many of them think Saddam
plotted 9/11. Oil flowing out but regular supply never guaranteed. A
“coalition of the willing” is battling there, ready to destroy other
vestiges of Arab resistance.

Turkey

The oil from Kirkuk is now transported through the Turkish port of
Ceyhan. Around 14,500 local Iraqis are paid £70 a week by private
security firms to guard this economic lifeline (Daily Telegraph,
May 17). Without this Kurdish oil, Ankara’s geo-political strength
will weaken considerably, at a time when the Turkish economy is
recovering from its doldrums. Here is the perfect opportunity to
wrench concessions out of Turkey.

Afghanistan

Sits on huge natural gas reserves. It was once estimated by the
Soviets (’70s) to be around 5 trillion cubic feet. Status quo can
remain as long as nobody else starts drilling there. The “coalition”
army hardly ventures out of Kabul and other major bases. Hamid
Karzai may be the benevolent face of the “new” Afghanistan but he is
after all, more than a friend to the American government and US oil
corporations. Karzai once worked closely with Afghan-American Zalmay
Khalilzad on a plan to tap Central Asian gas through Afghanistan.
Even the Taliban warmed up to the idea. The CentGas project later
died down due to 9/11, and the subsequent instability in Afghanistan.
It would have been the cheapest route for Central Asian gas.

Khalilzad was later named Bush’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan.

The war on terror here has given the US a pretext to erect military
bases in Central Asia and no one asks why the greatest power on earth
doesn’t find it safe to concentrate its bases on Afghan territory. An
Afghan stalemate would make this Central Asian presence indefinite.

Russia

Pumping more oil than ever, and is reaping good profits. It’s losing
its monopoly on Central Asian oil, with the aforementioned pipelines
planned to divert oil into the Caucasus. The Russians are hopping mad
at this but are not really in a position to militarily challenge US
encroachment in the region. It can barely hold on to Grozny alone;
forget other places in the Caucasus, where its army is conveniently
pinned down by terrorist activities, backed by, who else, the Afghan
Mujaheedin-CIA creation Osama bin Laden!

Attempts at solving the conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh, Dagestan and
Abkhazia has proved unsuccessful so far. Guess who is going to be
play the Tooth Fairy?

China

Global demand for oil is currently insatiable and China’s expanding
economy needs a lot of it. Whoever controls the oil supply to China,
controls its economy, and the extent of its growth rate. If its economy
is pressed, Beijing will focus on what it’s best at — producing cheap
goods of inferior quality; items termed by Singaporean leaders as
“cheap and of high quality.” The reality is many who say this do
not buy wholly Chinese tech products. Many ethnic Chinese stores
in Kuala Lumpur are already rejecting Made-in-China electronic
goods. US shopping malls stock glossy Chinese products that sell
for a song and break at a whim. The only products of “high quality”
are those manufactured with a foreign label, foreign innovation and
strict quality control, a reality that can be lost inside Motorola,
but not among foreign buyers who are switching to Nokia, Samsung and
Siemens cell phones.

If things get worse, it might be interesting to see how the oil-rich
Spratly Islands in South East Asia is played up. Many ASEAN nations
are laying claim to all or parts of it, with a greater degree of
validity than China. The UN’s Law of the Seas conventions only allows
a 200-nautical mile limit to maintain Exclusive Economic Zones,
and not something approaching 800 miles or beyond.

Osama bin Laden

Nobody outside the loop knows where he is or whether he still exists,
or what happened after his last genuinely public “video conference.”
His name is slowly being substituted by the term “Al Qaeda” in major
reports, giving the impression of endless terror from an invisible,
multi-headed Hydra. Not really in media oblivion but could be on
his way.

Tony Blair

Expendable. What else do you expect? If the British electorate
doesn’t kick him out, “New Labour” — itself a corporate buyout —
will replace him with Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of Exchequer.
Brown knows his soldiers are not very expendable. The Brits enjoy a
bloody good fight, but only when they need to.

George W. Bush

Good likelihood of staying. His trump card is “terror”. It is his only
public card. This is the United States, where people think God talks
to this man, who claims to have substituted “Christ” for whatever
he worshipped at his Skull and Bones shrine at Yale University. His
deity certainly wasn’t Jim Beam or San Miguel; otherwise, the United
States would have had an Oktoberfest all year long, complete with
oom-pah-pah dins instead of distant gunfire and deaths. What do you
prefer? Perhaps another fellow cult brother called John Kerry? Still
outraged by Clinton’s consensual indiscretion, are you, perhaps more
than the Abu Ghraib photos?

Soldiers traditionally expendable to meet corporate targets.

The rest of us

This won’t be the end of what looks like a global domination plan. If
the US army stays long enough in the region, expect a series of
mission creeps to follow. The only excuse for them being there is
terror. Watch out for more, dwarfing yesterday’s attacks in Khobar.

Alerts now stretch from Boston, Islamabad to Panama City, and do not
forget Southeast Asia with its Jemaah Islamiya. Only the US government
has such a reach though foreign governments have been “recruited” — an
appropriate term — to avert terror attacks of a 9/11 scale. (AP, May
27). Don’t you think Sept 11 worked wonders for US mega corporations?

It’s summer time, when consumer demands and oil consumption will be at
its annual peak. Businesses need that oil and it will be supplied at
a cost that can be measured more in the number of deaths than dollars.

The US army has completely triangulated the planet’s oil belly from
Incirlik (Turkey) to Manas (Kyrgyzstan) to Masirah (Oman). It will
be there for global economic stability and that’s how our perverse
systems work.

Oil is an issue that the masses, when desperate, will understand. We
can’t have runaway oil prices, can we, even if there are free
alternatives from greasy chicken kung pao. You can speed away on
highways and rock away across the country like how Healing Waters
Band did! It is a little late for that now.

Mathew Maavak publishes an eclectic online journal called the
Panoptic World (). He is a journalist based in the Far
East. Copyright 2004 @ Mathew Maavak.

Remembering Armenia
By Anna G. Eshoo

San Francisco Chronicle, CA
May 27 2004

Serbia, Rwanda and the Jewish Holocaust stand as stark reminders in
the American psyche of the brutality humankind is capable of committing
against itself. But many Americans are not aware that these atrocities
were preceded by another, equally horrendous act of barbarity against
the Armenian people.

Eighty-nine years ago, in 1915, the Ottoman Empire began rounding
up hundreds of Armenian leaders and putting them to death, a process
that eventually killed 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children
through forced death marches, mass burnings, rape and starvation.
Another half million were forced into exile. It was the 20th century’s
first genocide, and it served as a prototype for future genocides. In
justifying his regime’s policies two decades later, Adolf Hitler was
heard to say “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of
the Armenians?”

Today, the 50,000 Armenian Americans in the Bay Area and others around
the world are speaking out about this tragedy. Most are the children
and grandchildren of those who survived the genocide, haunted by their
loss and determined that not only will this crime never be forgotten,
but that it never happens again.

But “never again” is a phrase that we have uttered too many times
over the past century, whether in the bleak landscape of a German
concentration camp, the killing fields of Cambodia, or the red clay
hills of Rwanda. Too often it seems, the world’s collective horror
arrives too late, its sympathy tainted by the failure to act sooner,
to act decisively. Our moral determination has seldom been matched
by our political willingness to act.

Fortunately, history is not destiny. The African nation of Sudan
is enduring violence that many believe could lead to genocide. The
international community must be firmly united in demanding that
both sides in this conflict allow full access by humanitarian aid
organizations and the United Nations to the more than 1 million people
at risk. If the killing is stopped, history shows that the Sudanese
can survive the scarring of genocide, a crime that strikes not just
a people, but a culture, language and history as well.

But the history of Armenia demonstrates that the healing process
can take generations. Today, Armenia has a democratically elected
government with strong ties to the United States. Located at the
crossroads of Europe and Asia, Armenia has the potential to make
tremendous strides in improving the quality of life for all its
citizens. But regrettably, Armenia’s economic development is hindered
by continuing conflicts with Azerbaijan and Turkey, who blockade
most of Armenia’s borders, forcing all international trade to be
delivered by air or to travel overland via Georgia and Iran. The
United States has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to the people of
Armenia and their country’s security and development. U.S. technical
and developmental assistance is an essential component of this effort
and one I’m proud to support.

Ten years ago, the world stood aside while the killers in Rwanda
implored their supporters to push on, declaring that “the graves
are not yet full.” Today, we stand with our brothers and sisters in
Armenia, Rwanda, Cambodia and Europe in our shared resolve that the
horrors of genocide not be inflicted on another generation in Sudan.
The graves are, indeed, too full. It’s our responsibility as survivors
and descendants of survivors to ensure that they are never filled
again.

Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, D-Atherton, represents the 14th Congressional
District. Of Armenian and Assyrian descent, she is a member of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.

CARDINAL OF LYON, ARCHBISHOP PHILIPPE BARBARIN ARRIVES IN ARMENIA ON MAY 27

ArmenPress
May 26 2004

YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS: At the invitation of Catholicos of All
Armenians, Karekin II, Cardinal of Lyon, Archbishop Philippe Barbarin
will arrive in Armenia on May 27.

Armenian Church headquarters said in the course of his 5- day visit
the Cardinal will attend holy places of Armenia – Khor Virap, Temple of
Geghard, the Shirak Diocese, the Cathedral of Gregory the Enlightener
in Yerevan, he will attend also a services at St. Etchmiadzin.

It is expected that the Cardinal will hold meetings with students
and schoolchildren at the Vazkenian Seminary in Sevan, Theological
Department at Yerevan State University, French University of Armenia,
and French schools in Yerevan and Gyumri. Theology students will have
a chance to attend Cardinal’s lecture on St. Irineos.

Archbishop Barbarin will also visit Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to
commemorate the memory of victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide,
Matenadaran Institute of Old Manuscripts and the Bible Community.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
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05/25/2004
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1) Community Celebrates the Impact of Armenia’s First Independence Day
2) Coalition Firm in Improving the Country’s Situation
3) ARF Bureau Representative Visits Canada
4) ANCA Presents Case for Genocide Resolution Vote

1) Community Celebrates the Impact of Armenia’s First Independence Day

LOS ANGELES–Perhaps no other day symbolizes the resilience, hope, and
profound
commitment to freedom of the Armenian people more than May 28, 1918. The 86th
anniversary celebration of the May 28, 1918 Armenian Independence Day took
place on Sunday, May 23, at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, which was packed
by the community-at-large and invited guests who had gathered en-masse to
celebrate the noteworthy historical event.
Present were ARF Bureau members Vicken Hovsepian and keynote speaker Hagop
Der
Khatchadourian, Consul General of Armenia to the US Gagik Kirakossian, members
of the Central Committee of ARF Western Region, representatives of religious
bodies, and representatives and members of ARF-affiliated organizations, as
well as a wide array of other community institutions and organizations.
The Los Angeles Homenetmen scouts performed the flag ceremony, followed by
the
singing of the US national and Armenian anthems.
Speaking in Armenian and English, Master of Ceremonies Razmig Haroun, in his
opening remarks, recalled the words of Nigol Aghbalian, “The Armenian man of
future centuries will be amazed at the heroic resoluteness of that generation
which stood by the side of its abandoned homeland and, with its weakened and
inexperienced hands, but with an unfettered spirit, created a new Armenia from
ruins…May 28 celebrates this telling and ultimate determination.” Haroun
stressed it is impossible to celebrate this great resurrection of the Armenian
people without recalling that extraordinary generation which lay the
foundation
in Armenia with the concept of government. Haroun spoke of the heroes who
achieved the impossible because they were united, body and soul; and it was
that psychological atmosphere that gave birth to the miracle of Sardarabad.
“We
must be able to recreate the spirit and atmosphere of Sardarabad, and must be
able to infuse the Armenian spirit with the patriotism and knowledge that
existed during Sardarabad, in order to carry out our pan Armenian struggle as
one people.”
Keynote speaker, ARF Bureau Member Hagop Der Khatchadourian characterized the
miracle of the May victory as one that “crushed the centuries-old chains of
slavery, terror, and burdens,” to inspire hope in the Armenian people–hope in
the future and firm conviction in the power and abilities of Armenians.
When the genocide served to enslave the Armenian mind and conscience, along
with literary creations–even banished the existence of the Armenian exiled
from the 20th Century, May 28 emerged as the beacon that dissipated the
dreadful obscurity of psyche and spirit, and served to rekindle national
confidence and honor.”
Addressing Armenia’s political tensions, Der Khatchadourian said that the ARF
firmly believes that the key to resolving the current situation is through
guaranteed reforms in the life of the country and its people, ensured through
Constitutional reforms to strengthen democratic mechanisms, spur economic
growth, establish social justice, and fight against corruption, and the shadow
economy.
Speaking about national advancements realized in the last 15 years, Der
Khatchadourian said that it is our sacred duty to seize the moment with our
collective capabilities to ensure even more victories. “There is still a long
road; our quest continues–until we collectively reintroduce our inalienable
rights to a united Armenia, through uniting as Armenians.”
Also participating in the night’s celebrations were Consul General Gagik
Kirakossian, singers Sose Keshishian, Sushan Petrossian, Garine Avakian,
Hovhannes Shabazian, Rasmik Mansourian, and Karnig Sarkishian, and dancers of
the Armenian Dance Centera and Hamazkayin Ani Dance Ensemble.

2) Coalition Firm in Improving the Country’s Situation

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the
governing coalition called on the opposition once more to engage in real
dialogue.
The statement reads that though the opposition, through its statements made
jointly with other parliamentary forces, emphasizes the need to create a new
political atmosphere in the country, it has, nevertheless, failed to take the
appropriate steps in this direction.
“Adopting a policy of holding protest rallies instead of engaging in a
dialogue, they effectively do not adhere to the Council of Europe’s calls to
settle issues by political means without preconditions,” the statement
continues.
Referring to a solution to the problem, the coalition states the situation
can
not change simply with the readiness of authorities, but also requires the
opposition to change its stance, adding that it “believes the possibility
for a
further dialogue still exists, and expects that the opposition, with a
responsible stance, participate in the process of settling the current
problems
jointly.”
In concluding, the coalition confirms its resoluteness “to settle the
problems
and issues that the people are concerned with through implementation of the
Council of Europe’s recommendations and the country’s commitments before the
Council.”

3) ARF Bureau Representative Visits Canada

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau
representative
Hrant Margarian, arrived in Montreal on May 24, where he was greeted by
representatives of the ARF Canada Central Committee (CC), and members of the
Montreal “Mihran Papazian,” and Laval “Sargis Zeitlian” ARF chapters.
Margarian met with ARF Canada CC members and was briefed on the body’s
activities; in turn, he presented Armenia’s current political situation and
its
foreign policy issues.
Margarian will participate in the 86th anniversary celebration of the First
Armenian Republic, to be held on May 27 at the Canadian Parliament. On May 28
and 30, Margarian will serve as keynote speaker at the May 28 Independence Day
events in Toronto and Montreal.

4) ANCA Presents Case for Genocide Resolution Vote

–URGES SPEAKER HASTERT AND SENATE MAJORITY LEADER FRIST TO HEED CONGRESSIONAL
AND CONSTITUENT CALLS FOR ACTION

WASHINGTON, DCThe Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), again this
week, urged the Congressional leadership to take note of the overwhelming
bipartisan support for legislation marking the 15th anniversary of the US
implementation of the Genocide Convention and schedule a vote on the Senate
and
House Genocide resolutions (S.Res.164 and H.Res.193).
In an ANCA update sent to Members of Congress, ANCA Government Affairs
director Abraham Niziblian outlined ten key reasons why Senate Majority Leader
Frist and House Speaker Dennis Hastert should place the Genocide
legislation on
the Congressional docket for action.
The Genocide resolution was introduced in the Senate in June, 2003 by
Senators
John Ensign (R-NV) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ). Its
Companion House measure, H.Res.193, led by Representatives George Radanovich
(R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), was adopted unanimously by the
House
Judiciary Committee last May and has 111 cosponsors. The resolution cites the
importance of remembering past crimes against humanity, including the Armenian
Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodian and Rwandan genocides, in an effort to stop
future atrocities. Support for the measure has been widespread, with a diverse
coalition of over 100 ethnic, religious, civil and human rights organizations
calling for its passage, including American Values, National Organization of
Women, Sons of Italy, NAACP, Union of Orthodox Rabbis, and the National
Council
of La Raza.
The ANCA update provides the following compelling reasons why the Genocide
Resolution deserves a vote: it seeks to prevent future genocides; it
strengthens America’s commitment to the Genocide Convention; its unanimous
adoption by the House Judiciary Committee; its broad, bipartisan support;
endorsement by a coalition of over 100 organizations; support by Pulitzer
Prize
winning author Samantha Power for adoption of the Genocide Resolution;
participation of over 40 legislators in the Capitol Hill Observance of the
Armenian Genocide; request to President by 191 members of Congress this April
to recognize the Armenian Genocide; the National Genocide Resolution postcard
campaign; benefit concert supporting passage of Genocide Resolution.

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Pilgrimage to the ‘homeland’
By Monica Deady / Staff Writer

Watertown TAB and Press
Friday, May 21, 2004

St. Stephen’s fifth-graders visit Armenia

Principal Houry Boyamian hugged each child goodbye as they passed
through the doors of their school and boarded the waiting bus. After
a bus ride, two flights and several hours in limbo, the students will
arrive in Armenia, their “homeland.”

Twelve fifth-graders at St. Stephen’s Elementary School in Watertown,
along with their families, left for a 10-day trip to Armenia Tuesday,
marking the first time the school is sending students to visit the
country; it’s also the 20th anniversary of the school.

“We’re not pretty excited, [we’re] very excited,” fifth-grader Tina
Halvadjian said, “just for the fact that we’re gonna see our homeland.”

Halvadjian, who had tears in her eyes as Boyamian hugged her on her
way to the bus, explained that this would be the first time they
“actually see what we’ve studied.”

“This is our first time going and it’s our homeland, too,” Hovig
Karahousaran said. He said he was excited to see cities and everything
on their itinerary.

Other excited students and parents said they could not say a specific
thing they were looking forward to, but that they were just excited
to see their “homeland.”

While in Armenia, the students will stay in Yerevan, the capital, for
a few days. They will tour the foreign ministry, as well as several
museums, visit two schools and meet children there, and see several
important religious places.

In addition, the students will be in the country for Republic Day,
or Armenian Independence Day, and be able to attend celebrations.

To raise money for the trip beforehand, coordinator Shari Melkonian
said the families held several fund-raisers and collected money outside
various stores. Several local vendors also contributed to their trip.

Melkonian said they raised about $15,000, half the total cost of
the trip.

In a brief ceremony prior to boarding the bus, archpriest Rev. Torkom
Hagopian gave each child a gold cross, and blessed them.

“It is nice [that they are going],” Hagopian said before the
ceremony. “It is very nice that the children at this age will see
the motherland.”

Boyamian, who has been principal at St. Stephen’s for 16 years, agreed.

“For the past eight years they have learned so much; now they will
see with their own eyes,” she said.

“You don’t get to practice [a language] until you’re in the country,”
said John Altandilian, co-chairman of the board at St. Stephen’s
School and a former French teacher. “They’re going to feel their
whole eight years of school in 10 days.”

While the students are gone, the rest of the school will track their
progress on a map in the lobby, and two fifth-grade students who did
not go will report to the school on their progress each day.

“It’s going to be memorable, definitely memorable,” said Lori
Orchanian, a mother who went with her son, Nicholas, a fifth-grader,
daughter Stephanie and husband Zareh.

Monica Deady can be reached at [email protected].

Kocharian ‘Dismayed’ By Row Over World Bank Loan
By Ruzanna Khachatrian and Karine Kalantarian 25/05/2004 13:57

Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep.
May 25 2004

President Robert Kocharian has reacted with dismay to the
inner-government row over the alleged misuse of a 1999 World Bank loan
to Armenia’s judiciary, according to some leaders of the parliament
majority who met him over the weekend.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, they told RFE/RL on Monday
that Kocharian expressed his discontent with the public spat between
parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian and Justice Minister David
Harutiunian over the findings of the National Assembly’s Audit
Chamber. But they said he stopped short of siding with either
politician.

In an annual report unveiled last month, the parliament body controlled
by Baghdasarian decried the “inefficient use” of a $4.45 million
share of the $11.5 million credit which was set aside for repairing
and reconstructing 20 rundown court buildings across Armenia. It
argued that only 11 courts have benefited from the scheme designed
to strengthen the country’s judiciary.

Baghdasarian and Harutiunian publicly clashed over the allegations
during a parliament session. The latter vehemently denies any
wrongdoing, accusing the Audit Chamber of lacking professionalism
and manipulating facts. He pledged on May 14 to hold the Chamber
accountable for the allegations.

A Justice Ministry body in charge of the implementation of the World
Bank project was scheduled meet later in the day to discuss the
matter. Journalists were invited to cover the meeting. Invitations
were also extended to the head of the Audit Chamber, Gagik Voskanian,
and his top aides. None of them was in Yerevan, however.

The oversight body was also attacked on Monday by a member of
the parliament’s People’s Deputy group of non-partisan lawmakers
supporting Kocharian. Hakob Hakobian charged that it is manipulated
by Baghdasarian to conduct arbitrary inspections of government
agencies and present an incomplete or distorted picture of how they
use public funds. Observers believe that the People’s Deputy leader
Karen Karapetian was behind the verbal attack on the speaker.

Karapetian, Baghdasarian were among the leaders of all
pro-establishment factions of the parliament who met with Kocharian
on Saturday. It was the second such meeting in just over a month.

A brief statement by the presidential press service said the meeting
focused on the work of the National Assembly and issues to be discussed
during its upcoming sittings. Karapetian and other participants
likewise said that they mainly discussed their “legislative work.”

According to Mher Shahgeldian, chairman of the parliament committee
on defense and security, Kocharian and his top allies also agreed
that the almost four-month opposition boycott has not weakened or
undermined the assembly.

Armenia purchases two Il-76 planes at preferential price
By Alexander Konovalov, Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
May 20, 2004 Thursday

YEREVAN, May 20 — Armenia has bought two Russian Il-76 military
transport aircraft at Russia’s internal prices, Russian Defence
Minister Sergei Ivanov said after talks with his Armenian opposite
number Serge Sarkisyan.

“Two Il-76 military transport planes landed in Armenia on Thursday.
Armenia had purchased them from Russia at preferential internal
prices within the framework of the Organization of Collective Security
Treaty,” the Russian minister went on to say.

“This system has been in effect for many years and has enabled the
Armenian Defence Ministry to obtain two good military transport
planes,” Ivanov added.

Speaking about Russia’s military cooperation with NATO, Ivanov
specified that Russia participated in joint military exercises with
NATO only if that meets its national interests.

“As far as the participation of the Russian armed forces in joint
exercises with NATO is concerned, we do it only if we can gain some
practical benefit from it,” the Russian defence minister said.

“We have a selective approach to this issue proceeding from our
national, including military interests. If joint exercises with NATO
are of no use to our troops, we openly tell our partners about it,”
Ivanov explained.

ARKA News Agency
May 18, 2004

The U.S. will follow development of political situation in Armenia

The USA State Department report: RA Government policy pursued in the
area of human right in Armenia is still not satisfactory

“Golden Apricot” International Cinema Festival to be held in Yerevan
on 30 June – 4 July 2004

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THE U.S. WILL FOLLOW DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL SITUATION IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, May, 18. /ARKA/. The U.S. will follow development of
political situation in Armenia, the U.S. Department of State
Coordinator on Assistance to European and Eurasian Countries,
Co-Chairman of Armenian-American Working Group on Economic
Cooperation Carlos Pasqual stated today. According to him, it is
determined with the process of realization of program “Millennium
Challenges” that is based on 6 basic indicators – continuation of
fight against corruption, provision of political freedoms, protection
of civil freedoms, productive administration, establishment of law
priority, freedom of speech. He said that existing political
situation already affected the process of inclusion of Armenia in the
program. L.D. –0–

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THE USA STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT: RA GOVERNMENT POLICY PURSUED IN THE
AREA OF HUMAN RIGHT IN ARMENIA IS STILL NOT SATISFACTORY

YEREVAN, May, 18. /ARKA/. The RA Government policy pursued in the
area of human right in Armenia is still not satisfactory, according
to the report on Encouragement of Human Rights and Democracy: the
Activities of the USA, published on May 17 by the US State
Department. According to the report, notwithstanding some
improvements in some areas, serious problems still exist. According
to the report, the RA President Kocharian, was reelected through
legally disputable elections in 2003 and the elections were violated
by many serious blunders, as a consequence of which the elections
were not in line with international standards. Some workers of
law-enforcement structures infringed human rights. Information about
unjustified arrests was received. And one of the main problems is
their detention for a long time before court hearings. According to
the report, reforms of penitentiary system were conducted in Armenia,
but the conditions of detention of the arrested were not
satisfactory. The Executive power exerted pressure on judges, and
some of them were corrupted. Mass Media was also under pressure, and
limitations were put on the right to assemblies, associations and
preaching. There was a problem of social violence against women.
There was a problem of trafficking in human, for the settlement of
which the Government took some measures.
According to the report, the US Strategy on human rights and
democracy issues is still focused on fundamental issues, including
the necessity in elections in line with international standards,
development of civic society, observance of the human rights and law,
judiciary reforms, observance of right to freedom to be exercised by
mass media, as well as observance of the right to free assemblies,
preaching, increasing the transparency of the Government and struggle
against trafficking in human. The aid of the USA for the
implementation of this strategy made $ 22,4 mln in 2003, about $12,2
mln. of which were assigned for financing programs on education and
exchange on the US territory.
The report on Encouragement of Human Rights and Democracy: the
Activities of the USA and required by the Congress, states of the
efforts of the USA to encourage human rights and democracy processes
in 92 countries. It supplements the annual reports on human rights of
the US State Department in separate countries.
“We make long -term and important investments in democracy, -as
written by Colin Powell, the US State Secretary, in the preface of
the report – we work with NGOs, religious groups, opposition parties,
minorities, and trade unions movements for the development of dynamic
civic societies”. A.H. -0–

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“GOLDEN APRICOT” INTERNATIONAL CINEMA FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
ON 30 JUNE – 4 JULY 2004

YEREVAN, May 18. /ARKA/. From 30 June thru 4 July 2004 “Golden
Apricot” International Cinema Festival will be held in Yerevan. The
purpose of the Festival is stimulating Armenian producers to reveal
new creative forces in the cinema and video art, to demonstrate
Armenian films in the frames of joint programs on the Festival. As
told by Harutyun Khachatryan, Film Director, representatives of 16
countries to take part in the Festival. Among the invited will be
Atom Egoyan (Canada), Robert Gedikian and Serge Avedikian (France),
Arthur Aristakesyan and Alexei Muratov (Russia), Yervand Janikian
(Italy). 55 films of 5 categories – full fiction, short fiction,
documentary, animation and debut will participate in the competition.
During 5 days 80 films, including beyond the competition, will be
shown. In the frames of ou-of-competition program the spectators also
will be able to watch retrospective films devoted to Charles
Aznavour’s 80th anniversary and Sergei Parajanov, as well as there
will be demonstration of new Russian, Swedish, German, Bulgarian and
Italian films under slogan “Yerevan Premiers”. The Armenian cinema
should be taken beyond Armenia as this is the art that can easily
present the country.
The festival is sponsored by Union of Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs
of Armenia that involved in seeking sponsors among businessmen. T.M.
-0–

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