Author: Nahapetian Boris

Associated Press Worldstream
June 17, 2004 Thursday

Putin to attend back-to-back summits of former Soviet republics to
step up security, economic cooperation

by BAGILA BUKHARBAYEVA; Associated Press Writer

ASTANA, Kazakhstan

Russian Vladimir Putin and leaders of several other former Soviet
republics plan to boost security and economic ties at back-to-back
summits in the Kazakh capital, wrapping up a week of intense regional
diplomacy in strategic Central Asia.

The meetings Friday of presidents from member states of the
Russia-dominated Collective Security Treaty and Eurasian Economic
Community come after the summit in the Uzbek capital Tashkent a
day ago of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a security group
including China, Russia and four Central Asian nations.

As members of the Collective Security Treaty, the leaders of Armenia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan are expected
to discuss regional security and plans to beef up their collective
rapid reaction forces.

The alliance has nine battalions based in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan,
Kazakhstan and Russia and plans by 2010 to form a mobile force intended
to quickly respond to security threats to its members.

Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Ministry said treaty members will sign an
agreement on joint use of one another’s military facilities.

Russia has been recently seeking closer military and security
ties with former Soviet Central Asia, apparently trying to counter
increased U.S. influence here. The United States set up military
bases in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to back its anti-terror campaign
in neighboring Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 attacks nearly three
years ago.

Last year, Russia opened a military base in Kyrgyzstan under
the Collective Security Treaty to provide air support for future
anti-terrorist operations.

Russia’s moves have also been prompted by security concerns because
of the spread of radical Islam in Central Asia after the 1991 Soviet
collapse.

After the security summit, leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will on Friday sign agreements on adopting
unified laws and circulation of securities among the Eurasian Economic
Community.

The group was created in 2000 to restore lost economic ties after the
1991 Soviet collapse. Russia has 40 percent of the voting rights in
the organization and covers 40 percent of its budget.

In February, the countries agreed to form a customs union by 2006.
They are also working on creating a transport union and coordinated
migration policies, and are discussing unified energy and agricultural
markets.

At Thursday’s summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, China
offered US$900 million in credit to other treaty countries, which also
include Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The
group also inaugurated an anti-terrorism center in Tashkent.

That summit was preceded by official visits here by Chinese President
Hu Jintao and Putin, who signed separate bilateral cooperation
agreements with Central Asia’s most populous country.

Uneasy Talk About Peace: Karabakh and Armenia face different problems advisor says
By Zhanna Alexanyan, ArmeniaNow reporter

armenianow.com
June 18, 2004

A political advisor to Karabakh president Arkady Ghukassyan says he
sees a “new situation” evolving in efforts to strike a peace agreement
with Azerbaijan.

Speaking at a seminar in Yerevan Manvel Sargsyan said: “It is not
accurate to talk about the conflict the way it was talked about a
year ago.”

Sargsyan said that while the Minsk Group has been successful in
enforcing the 10-year cease fire between Azerbaijan and Karabakh, its
negotiating efforts have stagnated. The Minsk Group, the advisor said
“has expired”.

Manvel Sargsyan. The advisor says that in the past year the interests
of European Union and Council of Europe have intensified and that the
“European structures” approach a settlement from the standpoint of
human rights and rule of law.

This approach, he said, is a renewed pro-active attitude toward
settlement in an atmosphere in which ceasefire had seemed to be the
final conclusion of Minsk negotiations.

Sargsyan’s comments came during a seminar sponsored by the National
Citizens Initiative, attended by journalists, politicians, political
scientists and government officials. And his words were not all easily
received, especially when Sargsyan described Armenian policy toward
Karabakh as “a mess”.

Stating that the “Karabakh problem also belongs to Armenia,” at the
same time Sargsyan expressed an opinion that situations and problems
are different for Armenia and Karabakh.

“For Armenia it is a matter of safety of a population residing
outside its territory while for Karabakh it is a matter of achieving
self-determination and becoming an independent state,” Sargsyan
said. “If it concerns territorial factors, then Karabakh can solve
that matter with Azerbaijan.”

Asked if he represented the view of official Stepanakert, Sargsyan
replied: “The president of NKR presents the official position of
Karabakh, however, what I said is not too far away from that.”

Leaders of Armenia’s political community reacted sharply to Sargsyan’s
characterization of Armenia policy.

“We have always been taking Karabakh and Armenia as one territory,”
replied leader of the National Democratic Union Vazgen Manukyan. “But
according to your statements it turns out that we only help Karabakh
(but not participate in its survival). If we thought this way then
we would lose the war.”

Journalists, politicians, political scientists reacted to Sargsyan’s
analyses Participants at the seminar speculated that Sargsyan’s
comments and audience responses would draw fire from officials both
in Stepanakert and in Yerevan. The political advisor’s opinions,
some say, reflect a budding division between Karabakh and Armenia
which, before now, had only been spoken about in private.

While maintaining that changes in European attitudes are shifting,
Sargsyan also noted that: “None of the representatives has concretely
explained what it means, however, we believe there is a change which
concerns primary problems of the conflict.”

Sargsyan pointed to a visit to Karabakh earlier this year by Terry
Davis on behalf of the Council of Europe as an indication that
interests has increased on behalf of the European community.

“The line of direct connections has begun and it was interesting that
approaches of all European representatives are the same,” Sargsyan
said. “It is Terry Davis’ well-known thesis, about which he spoke
in Baku, that he is not interested in territories, he is interested
in people.”

Sargsyan also pointed out that there has been no involvement in the
peace process by Russia in the past year. And the advisor speculates
that Russia’s silence is evidence of an agreement between Russia and
the Europeans, to allow the latter more influence.

Azerbaijan supports Georgia-Turkey railway
By M. Alkhazashvili

The Georgian Messenger
Thursday, June 17, 2004, #111 (0635)

At the recent meeting in Tbilisi of Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev, special emphasis
was placed on Azerbaijan’s interest in the planned construction of
a railway connecting Georgia and Turkey. As President Aliev stated,
his country supports this project because it is of a regional nature
and will facilitate cooperation between the countries of the South
Caucasus.

Aliev emphasized Azerbaijan’s support for the project, saying that it
is of great regional importance and will be a major breakthrough in
the South Caucasus in terms of the movement of goods. He also stated
that Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey would be of more importance to
the world community from a transit standpoint. Both presidents agreed:
“This will be a revolution in communications and transport.”

Aliev added that in order to speed up construction of the railway
connecting Georgia and Turkey, it is necessary to create an
international consortium that will make a significant contribution
to the implementation of the project. But it seems less a matter of
speeding up construction than getting the project off the ground.

The cost of the project will inevitably be the main stumbling
block. The building of the railway will require approximately
USD 700-800 million and it is unclear where the money will be
found. According to Saakashvili, Turkey is willing to allot funds
towards the project. “Both the governments of Georgia and Turkey are
trying to find the necessary funds,” he said.

The issue of constructing a Georgia-Turkey railway came up during
President Saakashvili’s visit to Turkey at the end of May. Turkish
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer stated that an agreement had been reached
regarding the construction of the Batumi-Rize Railway. Discussion of
this issue was made possible by the Adjaran Rose Revolution in early
May and the reestablishment of the central government’s authority
in the region. There is simultaneously discussion on constructing a
line between Kars and Akhalkalaki, though this idea is still waiting
for further elaboration.

The announcement regarding the Georgia-Turkey railway was greeted with
concern in Armenia. Yerevan worries that this is yet another regional
project that will cut Armenia off from the rest of the region. There
is a railway connecting Turkey and the South Caucasus between Kars,
Turkey and Gyumri, Armenia, though it has been out of operation due
in large part to the Karabakh conflict.

Taking Armenia’s interests into consideration, Georgia expresses
its willingness to restore the Transcaucasian Railway connecting
Armenia with its number one strategic partner Russia via Abkhazia. But
obviously, this will require significant progress in the resolution
of the conflict in that region.

During their meeting, the presidents also discussed the rail tariff
on the Georgia-Azerbaijan railway, noting the need to decrease the
tariff in order to increase the competitiveness of the route and that
an agreement to this end had already been reached.

YASKERNIA RECEIVED BY ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER

A1 Plus | 21:32:39 | 14-06-2004 | Official |

The delegation headed by Yerzi Yaskernia was received also by Armenian
PM Andranik Margaryan.

The premier said he found an uncompromising stance taken by the
opposition on confidence referendum absolutely illogical.

Margaryan expressed hope that after meeting with all political forces
the delegation would get a real idea about the situation and its
report at the summer session would be objective,

Gazprom might limit gas shipments to Georgia

Interfax
June 15 2004

Moscow. (Interfax) – Gazprom might move to limit gas shipments to
Georgia, the company’s deputy executive board chairman Alexander
Ryazanov announced at a Tuesday press conference in Moscow.

Gazprom management plans to meet with Georgian representatives to
discuss issues of Georgian debt, for which there has yet to be a
payment schedule, Ryazanov reported. Georgia owes $12 million for gas;
factoring in debts for gas supplied earlier Georgia’s overall debts
are reaching $50-$60 million.

Ryazanov said Gazprom has suggested to Georgia the setting up of a
joint venture for upgrading the trunk gas pipeline running through
Georgia to Armenia, but a decision has yet to be made.

California Courier Online, June 17, 2004

1 – Commentary
Azeri Student Responds
With Effusive Apologies
By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
**************************************************************************
2 – Russian Paintings
Sale Begins June 30
In West Hollywood
3 – Western Prelacy Executive and
Religious Council Elect Officers
4 – Mesrobian School Team Named
CIF State Scholastic Champion
5 – Armenia Marriott Opens Doors
As Five-Star Branded Hotel
6 – Smacking a Sister Can Sometimes be a Good Thing
************************************************************************
1 – Commentary
Azeri Student Responds
With Effusive Apologies

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
In contrast to the obscene and threatening e-mail Rauf Zeynalov (an Azeri
university student) had sent on April 30th to Garen Vrtanesyan, the web
master of an Armenian web-site, he sent in response to our last week’s
column an e-mail full of regrets and apologies.
In his e-mail addressed to the “readers of The California Courier,”
Zeynalov repeatedly expressed his regrets for offending Armenians. In fact,
in his letter, the word “apology” appears 12 times and the word “sorry” 4
times. Here is his lengthy and rambling letter:
“I am writing in order to ask for apology for a recent incident happened
with an e-mail I send (sic) to Ms. Karen [Mr. Garen] Vrtanesyan. First of
all, I would like to ask for sincere apologies to everyone who has been
affected and hurt from my letter. I understand that a lot of people are
hurt because of my words, and I am ready to apologize to everyone, and I
hope one day I will have your forgiveness. With this letter, I ask for
apology of all readers of The California Courier, and for apology of
everyone that has been harmed from my words.
“Second, I would like to explain the situation and why this incident
happened. At the time of writing the letter to Vrtanesyan, I lost myself
due to my emotions and I forgot that the language I was using should never
be used. As everyone knows the Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and
Armenia has resulted in death of lots of innocent people from both sides.
And during these conflicts, as a resident of Karabakh, we lost our
relatives, house, and assets and became a refugee in Baku, Azerbaijan. We
have been settled in a hostel in the capital of Azerbaijan, with four
family members. All of these problems made me very emotional and when I
read an article in about an Azerbaijani soldier, I
became victim of my emotions when I was writing to Vrtanesyan. All of
these reasons that I have mentioned above made me quite emotional and made
me forget what kind of language I was using in my letter to Vrtanesyan.
“But after analyzing the case deeply, I understood that whatever the
reasons are, I should not use that type of language with anyone. So I would
like to ask my sincere apologies. I am not such type of person who is using
that kind of language and I would like to say that the language type which
was used by me was only and only result of my emotions for that time. In
order to prove myself and to show that I am not that kind of person, and I
am really sorry for being victim of my emotions, I would like to apologize
to Vrtanesyan and to all readers of The California Courier. The incident
that happened with Vrtanesyan was due to losing myself in my emotions for
very short time. I regretted writing that letter immediately after I send
(sic) it, but it was too late, because a lot of people were hurt from my
action. I want to ask sorry (sic) to everyone, and I hope that everyone
accepts my apologies.
“I am really aware of my action, I am really aware of the damage my actions
caused, and I would like to ask once more apologies of everyone, for using
slang type of language in my letter to Vrtanesyan. I am extremely sorry for
my action and I would like to say that I am also ready to ask for apologies
to every individual.
“I understand that my letter has affected many people. Therefore, I am open
to ask sorry (sic) to every person and every community that has been
affected from my letter, which, I emphasize, was written in a moment when I
was victim of my emotions.
“Again I want to ask my deep apology to everyone for the incident, and I
can assure everyone, that not only this kind but also any kind of incident
will never happen again. I hope you will accept my apologies very sincerely
and will take them into consideration.”
It is not very often that we get a letter of apology from a Turk or an
Azeri for sending an offensive or threatening e-mail message. While we
commend Zeynalov for apologizing and recognizing his mistake, we are
dismayed that he uses the Karabagh conflict as an excuse for his
inexcusable action. We cannot overlook the fact that his apology may be an
attempt to have his suspension from the American University in Bulgaria
reversed and is trying to save his full scholarship from Soros Foundation’s
Open Society Institute. His contention that he “regretted writing the
offensive e-mail immediately after sending it” does not hold water. He sent
an apology six weeks later, only after realizing that it was in his best
interest to do so.
Finally, a psychoanalyst should evaluate and treat Zeynalov to ensure that
he is totally rid of his demons, before he is readmitted to the University,
and before Armenians can forgive his hate crime.

**************************************************************************
2 – Russian Paintings
Sale Begins June 30
In West Hollywood
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – A one-day sale of Russian paintings will take place
June 30 at the “Crystal” Restaurant in West Hollywood, organized by Zaven
Torossian of the Noreks Fine Art and Antique Trading Co. The exhibit and
sale will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Paintings include Russian impressionists from the 1930s through the 1980s,
and post war Soviet paintings from the 1950s through the 1980s.
Included in the one-day sale will be paintings from Pushkarev, Abramov,
Frolov, Starshinov, and many famous academicians whose artworks and
biographies are listed in many well-known publications including British
art expert Matthew Cullern Bown’s “A Dictionary of 20th Century Russian and
Soviet Painters, 1900-1980.”
“We have a certified file on each artwork and then provide a certificate of
authenticity and provenance from an acknowledged expert,” Torossian said.
“We are continuously expanding our number of clients throughout the world,”
he added.
The sale will be held only on June 30, at the restaurant which is located
at 7901 Santa Monica Blvd., (corner of Fairfax).
For more information, call Torossian at (818) 766-8317.
**************************************************************************
3 – Western Prelacy Executive and
Religious Council Elect Officers
GLENDALE, CA – The newly elected Religious and Executive Councils of the
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America held their
first meetings on June 1 at the Prelacy.
The Religious Divan was elected by the Council meeting in the morning, and
presided by Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.
The following members were elected unanimously for the positions in the
Religious Divan: Rev. Fr. Viken Vassilian, Chairman, Rev. Fr. Ardag
Demirjian, Secretary; and advisors, Very Rev. Fr. Vrouyr Demirjian, Rev.
Fr. Hrant Yeretsian, Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian, Rev. Fr. Vahan Gos-danian,
Rev. Fr. Razmig Kha-chadourian, Rev. Fr. Khoren Babooshian, and Rev. Fr.
Nareg Pehlivanian.
Holding its meeting the same evening, the Executive Council also elected
its officers. The meeting was also attended by Khajag Dikijian, member of
the Central Executive Council of the Catholicosate of the Great House of
Cilicia.
The new Prelacy Executive Officers are: Hrayr H. Balian, Chairman, Hagop
Der Meger-dichian, M.D., Vice Chairman, Hagop Yedalian, Secretary, and
Vahan Bzdikian, Treasurer. Ad-visors are: Armand Keosian, Esq., Arsen
Danielian, Esq., Sahag Arslanian, MD, Peklar Pilavjian, Jack Gahuejian,
Boghos Sas-sounian, and Garbis Bezjian.
**************************************************************************
4 – Mesrobian School Team Named
CIF State Scholastic Champion
PICO RIVERA, CA – Armenian Mesrobian High School earned its fourth CIF
State Scholastic Championship with the highest team grade point average in
girls’ basketball, in competition with 1600 other California schools.
Mesrobian also claimed their 8th and 9th CIF Southern Section Academic
award during ceremonies held last month at Angels Stadium in Anaheim in a
pre-game program.
**************************************************************************
5 – Armenia Marriott Opens Doors
As Five-Star Branded Hotel
BOSTON – Representing the largest US direct investment to date in the
Republic of Armenia, the historic Hotel Armenia, located in the heart of
the republic’s capital, Yerevan, will open its doors as a branded 5-star,
world-class hotel on June 14, following a multi-million dollar restoration.
The brainchild of a Boston-based group of American and other “Diaspora”
Armenians, the launching of the 225-room Armenia Marriott Hotel, Yerevan,
is a stunning accomplishment. The owner-investors defied all odds to manage
the privatization process, luring critical investment dollars and
instituting “best of” practices previously unknown in this Caucasus-region
nation, once a part of the Soviet Union.
Formed as a labor of love and ethnic pride, AK Development, the investor
group behind the Armenia Marriott Hotel, Yerevan, won crucial support from
the international financial community on a scope never before seen in
Armenia and helped pioneer the way for future investment there.
It is the first project in Armenia to receive funding through the Overseas
Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). AK Development, which paid $10.4
million for the hotel and attendant office and development parcels, secured
this funding for the $42 million project following a more than two-year due
diligence process.
Additionally, hotel operator Marriott International has participation on
the lending side, with $1.3 million of subordinated debt and a $3.75
million interest guarantee.
The seeds for the hotel project were sown when an earthquake struck Armenia
in 1988, causing 25,000 deaths and generating a worldwide humanitarian
response. A number of prominent American-Armenian business and community
leaders united to aid relief efforts. With Armenia’s independence in 1991,
and its difficult transition in the following decade, a group of these men
and women sought a more permanent way to aid their ethnic homeland. Their
goal: a trailblazing investment that would stimulate a newly emerging
market economy and become a model for future foreign investment.
Hotels were among the first to be privatized by the Armenian government. In
1997, the Hotel Armenia was offered for sale with several key stipulations.
Primary among them was that the winning bidder affiliate with an
internationally recognized hotel brand.
AK Development was formally created in 1997 to acquire and restore the
hotel. The investor group was represented by East-West Financial Services
of Washington, D.C., under the leadership of Carl Bazarian, and won the
bid, along with some key concessions from the Armenian government. Chief
among these were all licenses needed for hotel operation, the allowance of
foreign currency accounts and credit card charges, and a “non-compete”
agreement preventing interference with hotel business.
The investors closed on the property in August 1998, with additional
financing secured by early 2000 and renovations begun in 2001.
Crucial to the project’s success has been Marriott’s willingness to manage
operations and undertake a training program before the brand was in place.
Since the hotel remained open during renovations, Marriott installed an
interim team to manage the hotel “as-was” and almost immediately began
training the local workforce. Sixteen Armenian employees were sent abroad
for intensive management-level training, 14 of whom have returned to work
at the hotel. Marriott also helped other existing employees upgrade their
skills.
The Armenia Marriott Hotel, Yerevan, boasts 225 spacious guestrooms,
including 23 suites; approximately 14,000 sq. ft. of flexible banquet and
meeting space; five restaurants; fitness center and shops. Guests enjoy
access to modern services and conveniences, including guestrooms equipped
with remote-control TV, phones with voice mail and multiple data ports;
24-hour room service; concierge service and full business center.
AK Development’s managing partner is Paul Korian, of Massachusetts, a
founding management team member of Staples. Other investors are: Gravestar,
Inc., a Cambridge-based asset management and real estate development firm
led by Deborah Ciolfi and representing Carolyn Mugar, a leader in
Armenian-American causes; siblings Charles M. Talanian and Gail Talanian
O’Reilly, owners/operators of commercial and residential properties in
Boston; brothers Nishan and Kevork Atinizian, partners in a shopping mall
and other real estate ventures in Cambridge, Mass,; the Hotel Armenia
Holding Company, a Seattle-based investor group with interests in
Caucasus-region businesses; the Oruncakciel family, Los Angeles-area real
estate developers; and Zareh Zarikian, a Venezuelan businessman who
operates hotels and other businesses in South America.
For reservations, call Marriott toll-free 1-800-228-9290 in the US and
Canada.
**************************************************************************
6 – Smacking a Sister Can Sometimes be a Good Thing
By Serge L. Samoniantz

WHITTIER, Calif. – Normally, when an older sister smacks the back of a
younger sibling, swift punishment inevitably follows.
Except when the slap in the back saves the child from choking on a piece of
candy. In that case, you rightfully get a medal of honor from a girl scout
troop, and plenty of media attention.
Nicolette Tosounian, 10, of Whittier, Calif., was honored last week by her
girl scout troop, Girls Scouts of the Spanish Trail, in a ceremony captured
on video by a news crew from Los Angeles’ KCAL-TV station and aired last
week on prime time.
Nicolette and her sister Dominique, 5, were on an Easter weekday outing
with the girl scouts troop #759 to the Wild Animal Park in San Diego,
accompanied by grandparents, Henry and Nadia Ajemian of Monte-bello.
Waiting for one of the trams, grandmother Ajemian noticed that Dominique
was having difficulty swallowing. Before the grandmother could move, when
Nicolette, remembering first-aid lessons from the girl scouts, rushed over
and slapped her younger sister in the back repeatedly until the offending
candy flew out of her mouth and hit the ground.
“And then, my sister went over and stomped on the candy with her foot,
until it was all broken up,” a smiling Dominique told the KCAL reporter on
camera.
Last week, Beverly Drane-Fowler, CEO of the Girl Scouts of the Spanish
Trail, Troop 759, presented the Medal of Honor to Nicolette for her quick
reaction to her sister’s situation.
The local Red Cross also honored the young girl with a certificate of
achievement. Other honors and recognitions are forthcoming from the city of
La Habra and the city of Whittier.
The Tosounian sisters both attend Jordan Elementary School in Whittier.
Nicolette will be entering 5th grade in Fall 2004, while Dominique will
start on First Grade.
Proud parents are Antranig Tosounian, a police officer with the city of
Montebello, and Lily, a young mother of three girls.
The latest addition to the family is Aleena, born just last year.
Of the three siblings, the youngest is too new to know that her oldest
sisters is a quick-thinking little hero, and the other one just very lucky.

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

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Karabakh’s Azeri community leader says separatist elections illegal

ANS TV, Baku
5 Jun 04

The Azerbaijani community of Nagornyy Karabakh will strongly protest
against the decision of the Armenian community to hold elections
to local government bodies in Nagornyy Karabakh. The community will
appeal to the OSCE Minsk Group and the OSCE’s Baku office.

The Azerbaijani community’s leader, Nizami Bahmanov, has told ANS
that the step which the Armenian community is going to take on the
occupied [Azerbaijani] lands is illegal. The Milli Maclis and the
[Azerbaijani] Central Electoral Commission should also comment on
the fact that the elections are illegitimate.

Bahmanov thinks that international public organizations should assess
the activities of the Armenian community as illegal. Even though the
presidential and parliamentary elections have been held [in Karabakh],
no international organization has recognized them as legal.

[Passage omitted: Reported details]

[Video shows Azerbaijani community leader Nizami Bahmanov speaking
at the news conference]

Opposition party meets voters in Armenian town despite police ban

A1+ web site
2 Jun 04

2 June: Despite the authorities’ ban, a meeting has taken place
in Gavar between members of the National Unity Party and the town’s
residents. The chief of the Gavar police, Manvel Shaginyan, banned the
meeting since it was not sanctioned. Shaginyan described as a trick
the explanation that it was a meeting with voters rather than a rally.

In his speech, National Unity chairman Artashes Gegamyan commented on
[Armenian President] Robert Kocharyan’s statement made in Gyumri on
1 June that “it is difficult to imagine that Vazgen Sarkisyan and
Karen Demirchyan [the Armenian prime minister and parliament speaker
assassinated on 27 October 1999] could act against their country
in Strasbourg”.

In the opinion of Gegamyan who is a member of the Armenian delegation
in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Robert
Kocharyan has no right even to mention the names of those killed on
27 October.

Armenian rally outside prosecutor’s office demands release of prisoners

A1+ web site
1 Jun 04

1 June: Once again representatives of various public organizations
gathered outside the Prosecutor-General’s Office today to demand
“Freedom to political prisoners” and “We demand to punish those who
resorted to force”.

The organizers of the picket managed to collect 8,000 signatures
in support of the political prisoners. “We believe that our protest
actions will somehow help the political prisoners and that they will be
released, but even if this does not happen, it makes no difference,
I am ready to go there again. We do not strive to bring together
as many people as possible, we simply want new faces to join us,”
protester Arutyun Alaverdyan said.

Today 391 signatures were handed over to the Prosecutor-General’s
Office. Members of the Justice political bloc also attended this
peculiar protest action.

Up to now, the protest actions went on for about an hour, however,
beginning from 2 June, protest actions will go on for two hours, from
1000 to 1200 [0500-0700 gmt]. The organizers are calling everyone to
join them.

New University, University of California, Irvine
May 31 2004

Hundreds Rally Against Alleged Arson

Speakers denounce the burning of an anti-Zionist cardboard wall and
promise that free speech will prevail at UCI.
by: Ben Ritter

Rob Oandasan

Rob oandasan | New University Students from various groups walk
around Ring Road to support the Society of Arab Students a week after
their cardboard wall was destroyed.

About 200 students and other concerned community members gathered
on the steps outside of the Administration Building on May 27 to
demonstrate unity against hate crimes, centering on the destruction
on May 21 of a cardboard wall constructed by the Society of Arab
Students to dramatize heightened Israeli-Palestinian relations.

The crowd gathered under a yellow banner that read “Hate crimes
and racism will not silence us!” Many demonstrators wore armbands
made from caution tape while others held signs with slogans such as
“Obliterate the hate,” “Hate is not the answer” and “Say no to hate.”

Osama Abuljebain, president of SAS, was the first to speak against
hate crimes on campus.

“The Society of Arab Students is firm on working towards ending hate
crimes against Arabs and Muslims and all other fellow Americans
suffering from such crimes here on campus and in our community,”
Abuljebain said.

Manuel Gomez, vice chancellor of student affairs, spoke of his own
outrage against the destruction of the wall, which he called “an act
of intimidation against the principles of our entire community.”

Gomez also stressed the administration’s commitment to maintaining
an atmosphere conducive to the free exchange of ideas.

“When I receive pleas and letters to shut down student demonstrations
on the campus, I continuously defend our community,” Gomez said. “I
believe that there is no better environment than a university in
which we are having these kinds of conversations and discussions.”

Gomez advised that students should band together despite their
differences when faced with such an attack on free expression.

“It is during times like this that we all put aside our political
differences to respect the liberties of free expression without
intimidation,” Gomez said. Speakers from other community organizations
also expressed their support of campus free speech efforts.

Preston Wood, from Act Now to Stop War and End Racism Coalition said
that the destruction of the wall was a manifestation of bigotry that
must be sought out and destroyed wherever it exists in the world.

“The violent destruction of the wall is just another demonstration
of bigotry gone wild, and it needs to be responded to,” Wood said.

Nader Abuljebain, representing the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination
Committee, expressed gratitude to the administration for their
investigation of the crime.

“We appreciate the efforts that are being done by the UCI
administration to investigate this crime and to denounce the arson
attack as a hate crime because it sends a clear message to our
students and community that the university cares about the safety
and the welfare of its students,” Abuljebain said.

Representatives of other student organizations including the Armenian
Student Association, the Muslim Student Union, MEChA and ASUCI also
pledged support for the SASs advocation of free political expression
on campus.

Some students attended the rally because they had felt personally
threatened by the crime that had been committed.

“We’re out here to protest against hate,” said Layla Shaikley, a
first-year undecided/undeclared major. “As a member of the Muslim
Student Union, part of the foundation of my religion is peace. As
a member of the Society of Arab Students, there is no way that I am
going to stand for being threatened because of my ethnicity.”

One campus group, however, felt unwelcome at the rally. According
to Anteaters for Israel they were turned away by the SAS when they
wished to show their support.

“Last Monday, news cameras were on campus covering the burning of
the wall and interviewing members of the Society of Arab Students,”
said Larry Mahler, President of Alpha Epsilon Pi and a member of
Anteaters for Israel. “I approached some of the students and expressed
my sympathy, because similar things had happened to our group in the
past, like the defacing of our Holocaust memorial last year. I said
that Anteaters for Israel would be more than happy to support them
in the free speech rally that they had planned.”

Despite their will to support the organization, SAS declined their
request.

Mahler said that the rejection of his group’s support, which he
attributes to differences in political opinions between the two groups,
was like “a slap in the face.”

“Although we have disagreed politically with the Society of Arab
Students, here is a time when we should support each other,” Mahler
said. “Free speech and opposition to the destruction of property is
one thing that we should agree upon … A lot of other organizations
were represented at the rally. It would have been nice to be a part
of the rest of the community and not to be excluded.”

Vanessa Zuabi, vice president of the SAS responded by saying that
they didn’t want AFI at the rally because they did not want to turn
the rally into a political issue.

“We didn’t want to make the rally political in any way shape or form.
We didn’t want the issue of Palestine and Israel to overshadow what
we were really there for which was to stand against hate. We didn’t
want any other issue to overshadow it,” Zuabi said.

According to Zuabi, the Model United Nations will be organizing
dialogue between certain Arab and Israelis students in the next week.

“You automatically create these boundaries when you come in as
representatives of an organization. It’s better to come into the
discussion as an individual,” Zuabi said.