Georgian admits attack

International Herald Tribune, France
July 22 2005

Georgian admits attack
By C.J. Chivers The New York Times

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2005 — MOSCOW — The man arrested Wednesday night
after a shootout with the Georgian police admitted on Thursday that
he threw a hand grenade near a stage where President George W. Bush
was addressing a huge public rally in May, two senior Georgian
officials said.

The grenade did not explode, but it sullied a presidential visit to the
small post-Soviet nation on the Black Sea, at which Bush embraced the
country’s tilt toward the West, and gave a speech about the advance
of freedom and democracy.

The suspect, Vladimir Arutyunian, 27, told doctors who are treating
him that he had hurled the grenade, Vano Merabishvili, Georgia’s
interior minister, and Gela Bezhuashvili, the chairman of Georgia’s
National Security Council, both said in telephone interviews.

Arutyunian’s motive was not immediately clear, but the initial
impression of investigators was that he bore some unspecified animus
toward the United States and had acted alone, Merabishvili said.

The two officials said they expected the investigation to gain more
clarity once officers are able to interview the suspect. Arutyunian
was under guard on Thursday in a hospital in Tbilisi, where he was
being treated for gunshot wounds. His injuries were not regarded
as life-threatening.

A search of Arutyunian’s apartment had turned up more grenades,
Russian military manuals and, according to Guram Donadze, the Interior
Ministry spokesman, a Russian-language copy of “The Day of the Jackal,”
a novel about a plot to assassinate Charles de Gaulle.

Arutyunian, an unemployed Georgian citizen of Armenian descent, was
arrested at the apartment he shared with his mother on the outskirts
of Tbilisi on Wednesday night after a shootout in which one Georgian
officer was killed.

The arrest capped an intense week for Georgian security officials,
who released photographs of the suspect on Monday, and offered a
reward of more than $80,000 for information about his whereabouts.
The photographs showed a clean-shaven young man in a black jacket
and dark glasses.

Bezhuashvili said the pictures were discovered after an investigation
conducted jointly by the Georgian authorities and the United States,
in which officers reviewed every obtainable photograph or video taken
in the crowd, including satellite imagery.

Once the pictures were released, Bezhuashvili said, the tips leading
to Arutyunian began pouring in, and he was promptly arrested. He had
recently grown a beard.

The American Embassy in Tbilisi released a statement expressing its
appreciation for the arrest and calling the joint efforts during the
investigation “a model for international law enforcement cooperation.”

Merabishvili said Arutyunian was a member of a separatist party that
supported the deposed leadership of Ajaria, a region formerly out of
Georgia’s federal control that rejoined the nation last year under
pressure from Mikhail Saakashvili, Georgia’s president.

But he said it was not clear what influence, if any, separatist
politics may have had in the incident. It was also not immediately
clear where the suspect obtained the grenades and the assault rifle
with which he fired at the police.

AGBU PRESS OFFICE: AGBU Interns Cross the Halfway Mark

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x137
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, July 21, 2005

AGBU INTERNS CROSS THE HALFWAY MARK

New York, NY – As designed by the AGBU New York Summer Intern Program
(NYSIP), the world’s most professionally challenging and culturally
enriching Armenian internship program, the 32 interns of 2005 have
grown not only as up-and-coming professionals but as Armenians who,
thanks to NYSIP, identify now, more than ever, with their culture
and heritage.

Entering their sixth exhilarating week with a diverse array of
activities at their disposal, the interns have had the pleasure
of mingling and networking with local professionals and community
leaders, including a screening by Andrew Goldberg of his documentary
“The Armenians: A Story of Survival;” a networking skills seminar
with entrepreneur Paul Kayaian, a former Manager of Sponsorships
for the XFL and NASCAR; Armenian dance lessons by AGBU Antranig
Dance Ensemble performers; and a professional seminar on resume
writing and interviewing tips with Ryan Herson of Young & Rubicam,
an advertising agency.

The second in a three-part series of inside accounts and individual
testimonials, this article shines a spotlight on AGBU interns Carolyn
Nishon and Lara Golnazarians as they provide you a peek into their
professional and personal lives, and what it means to them to make
new Armenian connections as young adults.

Established in 1987 by Vartkess and Rita Balian and still
currently under their supervision in its 18th season, AGBU NYSIP
() is sponsored by AGBU’s President’s Club placing
young, aspiring Armenians in eight-week internships for prestigious,
world-class organizations, while providing a well-rounded program of
Armenian cultural, community service and social activities.

CAROLYN NISHON, AGBU INTERN FOR KALEIDOSCOPE IMAGING My mother once
told me that no matter where you go, if you seek out other Armenians,
you will discover a welcoming community…an extension of your own
family. Having spent six weeks here in NYC, I’m finally beginning
to understand what she meant exactly. She called me the other day
and asked if I missed home. I answered with an honest “No” because
although I’m nearly 700 miles away from Okemos, Michigan, I’ve never
felt more “at home.”

Within this group of interns, I have undeniably found an extension
of my own family. However, this cultural link exists not only within
the NYU dorms, but in the workplace as well. I am so fortunate to be
working in a creative, innovative environment at Kaleidoscope Imaging
where the relationships I have with my fellow Armenian coworkers make
the experience unique and exceptional. Whether they are working with
me to produce the most skillfully crafted 3-D model of a product or
teaching me to count in Armenian as we pass each other in the hallways,
our ethnic connection makes my job much more personal and welcoming.

Through this Program, I have truly come to respect and value my
heritage. And what better place to connect with my culture than in this
incredible city. With each passing day, I find myself more independent,
more capable, more Armenian.

Carolyn Nishon is entering her junior year at University of Michigan
double majoring in English and Psychology.

LARA GOLNAZARIANS, AGBU INTERN FOR ABSTRACT EDGE “Time flies when you
are having fun.” Speaking for all NYSIP 2005 Interns, this past month
has been an intense professional experience fused with New York,
on the go, extravaganza-filled events, intellectually stimulating
lectures and life lasting friendships.

Hailing from eight countries, I was initially curious as to how such
an assorted collection of youth would get along. Each intern exudes
matchless characteristics unique to their home country. Various
languages, distinct customs and traditions have defined the group
bringing new meaning to the word “international.” However, I soon
realized that even though each intern is significantly different,
we all share a special connection…our Armenian heritage.

“Music is the world language”…on June 29, within the walls of AGBU
Central Office, this aphorism came alive. Individually hesitant,
each intern nervously looped pinkies for the first Armenian dance
lesson. A few foot stumbles and laughs of embarrassing mishaps later,
the group slowly unified step by step. Collectively observing and
teaching each other the Tamzara and the Michigan hop, each intern added
their own flare to the familiar music we identify as our own. As each
beat thumped, the same tunes that once held our ancestors together
generations ago in distant Armenian villages traveled time to unify
our modern mini-world in our 21st century New York metropolis.

Although accents differ and customs may be dissimilar, we should
treasure our heritage, history and culture, which not only sets us
apart from the world, but also unifies us as a distinct race. The
Armenian music rekindled the spirit of our great culture and reminded
us of the opportunities and experiences we share this summer, and
most importantly, our purpose as young Armenians to give back to
the community what it has offered us – a sense of belonging. Whether
it is folk music, poetic literature, religion, language or cuisine,
we must honor daily the connection we share as an Armenian.

Lara Golnazarians is entering her senior year at University of Southern
California majoring in Health Promotion & Disease Prevention with a
double minor in Business and Art History.

www.agbu.org
www.agbu.org/nysip

No easy answer in Transdniester

Kyiv Post, Ukraine
July 21 2005

No easy answer in Transdniester
Jul 21 2005, 02:28

A plan introduced by Ukraine to resolve the 15-year struggle over the
disputed region of Transdniester, the territory east of the Dniester
River in Moldova, has met with some success, and augurs well for the
larger diplomatic leadership role Ukraine wishes to play.

The document, devised by Ukraine’s National Security and Defense
Council Secretary Petro Poroshenko, envisages an autonomous
Transdniester within a sovereign Moldova, and democratic elections
to the Transdniestrian parliamentary body by the end of the year.
Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin called the document the “most
checked out and promising” in the history of the conflict when the
Moldovan parliament voted to support the plan on June 10.

Yet, true to the form of the labyrinthine negotiations, “indispensable
conditions” subsequently demanded by Moldovan legislators have
proven to be irrevocably repugnant to key guarantors Transdniester and
Russia. All in all, despite Ukraine’s efforts, significant improvements
to the situation continue to be elusive.

This is dangerous, not only for Ukraine but all of Europe. Continued
resistance on the part of the key actors will only perpetuate
the malfeasance and lawlessness that has come to characterize the
regime ruling the Russian-speaking enclave of 670,000 people. Known
colloquially as the “black hole of Europe,” Transdniester allegedly
rakes in huge profits through tax-free trafficking schemes involving
arms, drugs, cigarettes and other products. Viorel Cibotaru, program
director at the Institute for Public Policy in Chisinau (IPP),
estimates that Transdniestrian authorities have generated between
$1 and $2 billion in illegal revenue, some of which is used to pay
pro-Transdniestrian lobbies in Kyiv and Chisinau. The area is also
notorious for its panoply of human rights violations.

Ukraine has a vested interest in reigning in this Wild West of
south-eastern Europe, given the Western course envisioned for the
country by President Viktor Yushchenko’s administration. Borys
Tarasyuk, the head of Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, called ending the
conflict “one of the most important tasks for Ukrainian national
security” in February.

Imperial shenanigans

Transdniester has been affiliated with Russia since 1792, when
it was incorporated into the Russian Empire. The rest of Moldova,
which was also briefly a part of Tsarist Russia but historically a
principality of Romania, was only added to the Soviet Union during
the Second World War, when it was combined with Transdniester to make
the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic.

Unlike in Ukraine, where the Soviets cracked down on ethnic loyalty
in favor of a stateless Soviet identity, they encouraged Moldovan
nationalism. Considered artificial by many Moldovans today, the
project was a way to quell ethnic identification with Romania.

When the Soviet Union fell apart, the majority population of ethnic
Ukrainians and Russians in Transdniester balked at the idea of being
joined to Romania, a possibility being considered by the rest of
Moldova. The conservative Soviet politicians in power in Transdniester
exploited the natives’ anxiety, and took the opportunity to declare
the independence of the Dniester Moldovan Republic (DMR), as the
Transdniestrian state was branded, in 1990. A short civil war soon
broke out over the split, with the conflict ending when the Russians
intervened militarily in the spring of 1992. Around 1,700 Russian
peacekeepers still police the region, with Russia seen as attempting
to safeguard a foothold in its old sphere of influence by supporting
Transdniester’s de facto independence from Moldova.

A mini USSR

Transdniestrian President Igor Smirnov and friends have more or less
made Transdniester a living museum of the Soviet Union, retaining
the region’s infrastructure from the communist era, when the area was
Moldova’s industrial heart, and mimicking Soviet efforts to control
the minds of the masses.

Transdniester touts its own brand of nationalism while billing itself
as the last bastion of Moldovanism (again, a construct promoted by
Stalin), which it pits righteously against a Romanianized Moldova. On
my recent trip through Tiraspol, Transdniester’s capital, I saw
freshly-painted slogans that proclaimed, “The DMR is our pride!” and
profiles of Lenin displayed prominently on scruffy government
buildings.

Does the average Transdniestrian buy into this anachronistic
ideology? Difficult question. First of all, many grassroots NGOs
and Western organizations committed to democratizing the region have
been harassed or barred from working by Transdniestrian authorities –
making objective information about the native mindset hard to come
by. But Natalya Belitser, an expert at the Pylyp Orlyk Institute for
Democracy in Kyiv who has worked extensively with the region, proffers
that Transdniestrians still have a “Soviet mentality that makes them
unaware of the attractiveness of democracy.” Media mostly limited to
Transdniestrian and Russian sources, “informational brainwashing,” as
Belitser puts it, and poverty conspire to keep political consciousness
low. A poll conducted by the IPP in February 2005 shows that only
27 percent of non-Transdniestrian Moldovans are concerned or very
concerned about politics.

And in Moldova proper political consciousness and democratic freedoms,
while hardly perfect, are widely seen as being better realized than
on the other side of the Dniester.

At the same time, the isolation and grinding poverty of Transdniester –
which has an official GDP even lower than Moldova, the poorest country
in Europe – must be hard to ignore, as is that along with a Soviet-like
state come bizarre manifestations of its corruption.

One notable example is the brand-new, state-of-the-art soccer stadium
in Tiraspol’s vacant and derelict outskirts, as out of place as a
spring in the middle of a desert. There’s even a Mercedes-Benz outlet
in the stadium’s bottom floor, which no one save the region’s elite
could ever dream of patronizing.

An equally lavish Orthodox church has also reportedly been erected
in Tiraspol. While these structures in some way benefit the local
population because they are officially public facilities, more
frequent, covert forms of corruption don’t. As a result, “people are
becoming more and more tired,” says Belitser. “They want normal lives.”

But intimidating governance, coupled with the low political
consciousness, easily stifles dissent.

“Human rights don’t exist in Transdniester,” says Maxim Belinschii,
a lawyer at the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Moldova.

Stefan Uritu, the Committee’s president, says that the right to
free and fair elections; freedom of speech and mass movement; and
an independent judiciary are all systematically violated. He also
alleges, as the Helsinki Committee has formally attested, that the
Transdniestrian regime is responsible for more insidious offenses,
including the deaths and/or disappearances of locals critical of
the regime.

Transition in Transdniester?

According to conflict resolution theory, the Transdniestrian dispute
is one of the easiest to solve because, unlike conflicts in other
Eurasian hotspots like Chechnya, Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh, the
dispute isn’t predicated on religious or ethnic hatreds. “The conflict
is an artificially constructed political issue,” Belitser explains.

On the other hand, those benefiting from Transdniester’s lawlessness
are not inclined to see the regime dismantled any time soon.

“The main task of the Transdniestrian regime is to keep it going as
long as possible,” says Viorel Cibotaru, the program director at IPP.
If the current regime maintains power and drive, as the stalled
negotiations unfortunately suggest, “one hundred years from now,
this game will still be the same.”

Iranian diplomat says biltareral relations ummune from domesticdevel

IRANIAN DIPLOMAT SAYS BILATERAL RELATIONS IMMUNE FROM DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS

ArmenPress
July 20 2005

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: In an interview with Armenpress, Mehdi
Safari, a special envoy of Iranian president on Caspian affairs,
said relations between Armenia and Iran are progressing, saying
also economic cooperation is in the limelight of both countries’
leaderships.

He said inspired by the growing economic cooperation Armenian and
Iranian governments are looking for new areas that would enable them
to use the available potential in full. Safari also underscored mutual
familiarizing visits of Armenian and Iranian businessmen, traders and
government officials saying they are important in terms of further
bolstering of economic collaboration. Mehdi Safari also denied fears
that the election of a new Iranian president might have any impact
on bilateral relations saying domestic developments in Iran have no
impact on Iran’s relations with other nations.

“Iran’s relations with Armenia have been developing steadily since
Armenia regained its independence and this process will continue
throughout the term of Iran’s new president, which is evidenced by
a series of high-level mutual visits on the eve and in the wake of
the election,” Safari said. Safari also reiterated Iran’s official
approaches towards regional developments, establishment of peace and
security here saying Iran is determined that all local conflicts must
be settled by peaceful means and through negotiations.

The Iranian diplomat also spoke about Armenian-Iranian cooperation in
energy describing it as “very successful,” singling out the ongoing
construction of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, soonest completion of
a wind-mill in Armenia built by Iran and seasonal electricity swap
between the two countries. He also praised the Armenian government
for deciding to build a second overland road connecting Armenia
with Iran saying it will be a serious input in further enhancement
of cooperation. At the end of his interview Safari commended the
Armenian community of Iran for its contribution to overall development
of bilateral relations, saying they enjoy the same rights as the rest
of Iran’s population.

Azeri MFA: Baku will not compromise in Lachin issue

AZERI MFA: BAKU WILL NOT COMPROMISE IN LACHIN ISSUE

Pan ARMENIAN Network, Armenia
July 16 2005

16.07.2005 04:38

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Lachin is an inseparable part of Azerbaijan and this
territory cannot be conveyed to Armenians’ control,” Deputy Foreign
Minister of Azerbaijan Araz Azimov stated. In his words, “under the
guise of “a corridor” the Armenian party is trying to acquire control
over Lachin.” “Baku has many times reaffirmed its stand, according to
which the territories seized by the Armenian party, including Lachin,
should be returned to Azerbaijan. In exchange official Baku commits
itself to secure NK Armenian population,” Azimov said. He remarked
concessions of Azeri party in the Lachin issue are out of question,
Mediamax reported. It should be noted that when earlier commenting
on the topic of the humanitarian corridor in Lachin that is lately
raised by Baku, NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan noted that Lachin is
not subject to compromise, as this road connects Nagorno Karabakh
with the external world. “We have not deviated and we will not deviate
from the posture of our people,” the NKR leader underscored.

To Prevent Cultural Genocide

TO PREVENT CULTURAL GENOCIDE

A1+
15-07-2005

A number of intellectuals were gathered in the National Academy
of Science today and tries to appeal to the TA Authorities. Their
concern was the fact that no steps are taken to condemn the policy
of cultural Genocide led by Turkey to destroy the Armenian spiritual
and cultural monuments in Western Armenia and Turkey, and to punish
Turkey according to international legislation.

«It is high time for Armenia, as a sovereign country to raise the
question in international channels, either in UN, or in other European
structures», said the head of the Turkish administration of the NAS
Orientology Institute Ruben Safrastyan.

The Turkish policy is condemned by the «Lozano treaty», «Resolution
about the protection of the World cultural and national heritage»,
and the «European Convention about the protection of the Architectural
Heritage» signed by the country. The Euro Parliament resolution «About
the solution of the Armenian Case» adopted in 1987 and re-confirmed in
2004 demands that Turkey respect and protect the historical monuments
of the Armenian nation.

According to UNESCO, after the Great Armenian Genocide about 1000
Armenian monuments have remained in the territory of Turkey. In 1974
more than half of them were totally destroyed, and about 200 are all
in ruins.

–Boundary_(ID_/ASv2N6/IisYzM550ZxaaA)–

BAKU: Azeri foreign minister says too early to talk about Karabakhac

Azeri foreign minister says too early to talk about Karabakh accord

MPA news agency
15 Jul 05

Baku, 15 July: “It is too early to talk about any agreements as talks
[on the Nagornyy Karabakh resolution] are continuing. However, I can
assure you that the [negotiating] process is being held on the basis
of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and the country’s constitution,”
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has told journalists.

He said that the world recognizes Nagornyy Karabakh as part of
Azerbaijan and everything else is empty talk. Reports circulated by
the Armenian media may be provocative or aim to test the waters. It
cannot be ruled out that Armenia is trying to resolve its domestic
problems in this way.

The minister said that regardless of the outcome of talks between the
[Azeri and Armenian] foreign ministers in Moscow, the Azerbaijani
and Armenians presidents will meet in Kazan. The Azerbaijani foreign
minister has given his consent to the meeting on 22 August and is
waiting for Armenia’s reply. Mammadyarov did not rule out signing a
document at the Kazan meeting.

In reply to journalists’ questions, Mammadyarov stressed that opening
communications [with Armenia] is being discussed as part of a package
among nine points containing all elements of a future agreement. The
talk is about the liberation of the occupied territories, return
of refugees, rehabilitation of territories, restoration of the
communications and deployment of peacekeeping forces. The removal
of one of these elements may result in the breakdown of the entire
structure. After fundamental problems have been resolved, issues
of involvement of peacekeeping forces and their deployment will
be discussed.

Touching upon the possibility of Iran participating in the negotiating
process as a mediator, the Azerbaijani foreign minister stressed
that Iran is not a member of the [OSCE] Minsk Group. Mammadyarov
believes that in order for talks to get under way between the Nagornyy
Karabakh communities, the Azerbaijani community should first return
to Nagornyy Karabakh, Lacin and other territories currently under
occupation. “Azerbaijan wants to put an end to ethnic cleansing. This
is where we stand and will stand,” the Azerbaijani foreign minister
said.

Skirmish at Georgian-Azeri Border

SKIRMISH AT GEORGIAN-AZERI BORDER

A1+
14-07-2005

Two policemen of the Georgian Finance Ministry were wounded in a
skirmish that took place yesterday at the checkpoint of Lagodekhi at
the Azeri-Georgian border. As reported by IA Regnum, the skirmish
followed a dispute between the policemen and a group of Azeris, who
were crossing the border.

The collision was stopped after Georgian interior officers arrived at
the scene. It is supposed that the Azeris were trying to smuggle some
goods. Presently the investigation is carried out.

Armenian Refugees Do Not Want to Receive Citizenship

ARMENIAN REFUGEES DO NOT WANT TO RECEIVE CITIZENSHIP

A1+
14-07-2005

There are 360 000 registered refugees in Armenia. 65 000 of them have
received the Armenian citizenship.

The figure is conditioned not by the will of the authorities but by
the wish of the refugees themselves. They do not want to lose the
refugee status, since with it they will lose the advantages and state
support.

Today the Council on Refugee Issues held a sitting in the National
Assembly. Council Coordinator Boris Shahnazaryan in detail presented
the activities of the council. Head of the department presented the
current situation and the order of providing the refugees with flats.

851 citizens were expected to receive certificates for domicile with
the funds assigned by the state budget 2005. When asked by Arthur
Baghdasaryan whether they will manage to fulfill the program, Sargis
Harutyunyan said `yes’.

However the order of compiling the lists of people eligible for the
certificates is still unclear. The head of the migration department
said the lists are compiled by the marzpets and the degree of poverty
is checked by the department.

Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan stated that very often the adopted laws
infringe the rights of refugees. Arthur Baghdasaryan offered to submit
all the remarks in written form.

Ombudsman’s Letter to RA President

OMBUDSMAN’S LETTER TO RA PRESIDENT

A1+
14-07-2005

RA Human Rights Defender Larisa Alaverdyan sent a letter to Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan. The letter says, in part:

`The RA Ombudsman considers that presently a number of operating laws
contain clauses, whose correspondence to the Constitution can be
seriously questioned. The matter concerns some articles of the RA law
`On Social Insurance Cards’. The citizens have sent a great number of
complaints. They claim that the dependence of conclusion of labor
contracts, receiving of salary and other payments of the availability
of social cards conflicts with the Organic Law of the republic.

Since the Constitution does not provide for the Ombudsman’s right to
appeal to the Constitutional Court, the Human Rights Defender hopes
that it will be the President to appeal to the CC to clarify the
correspondence of the law `On Social Insurance Cards’ to the
Constitution.’

The full text of the letter you can find on website.

www.ombuds.am