ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO HASHEMITE KINGDOME OF JORDAN DISMISSED
07.04.2005 03:41
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ By a decree of President of Armenia Robert Kocharian
Armenian Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Levon Sargsian
is dismissed. The Press Service of the state leader reported it.
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Sunday, April 3, 2005
Clark has role in recognition of Armenian genocide
Albert B. Southwick
Commentary
It was doubly fitting that the event was held in Worcester, the beacon
light for so many Armenians over the generations. The link between
Armenia and Worcester is one of the more fascinating chapters in the
immigrant saga.
A short time ago I was at Clark University for an unusual event –
the official announcement that a section of the Rose Kennedy Greenway
between Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Christopher Columbus Park in
Boston is to be designated Armenian Heritage Park in memory of the
Armenian genocide of 1915. The Rose Kennedy Greenway is to be a series
of parks and recreational spaces built above the Big Dig and featuring
an array of plantings, pedestrian walkways and memorials. It will
cover almost 30 acres and will be a striking contrast to the rusting
ironwork of the old Central Artery.
It was a festive and somber affair. Matthew J. Amorello, chairman of
the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, and Jordan Levy, authority vice
chairman, were on hand to comment on the ethnic heritage of America
and the special contributions of the Armenian communities. State
Rep. Peter J. Koutoujian, D-Waltham, and Rachel Kaprielian,
D-Watertown, expressed their appreciation to all who had worked to
bring the project to fruition, including the 14 Armenian churches
and 24 Armenian organizations who participated. The monument itself,
a dodecahedron, designed by Donald J. Tellalian, can be reconfigured
in various ways and will periodically be separated and reassembled
to symbolize the historical efforts of a fractured people to achieve
unity in their native land.
As I observed the well-dressed, attentive crowd, I reflected on
what they were thinking. These were the children, grandchildren and
possibly great-grandchildren of those who perished in the killing
fields of Turkey and Syria 90 years ago. Every one of them, I am sure,
had heard grim family stories of that bloody time. Every one of them
had a deep, deep awareness of what is meant by the term, “genocide”
– the attempted extermination of a people not because of something
they did, but because of what they were.
It was fitting that the ceremony was held at Clark, home of the
Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. It
originally was set up to commemorate and study the Jewish Holocaust
of 1942-45, but the Armenian genocide of 1915 is also on its
agenda, thanks to a generous donation by the Kaloostian and Mugar
families. Unfortunately, as shown by recent events in Africa and the
Balkans, genocide remains a corrosive problem for the human race.
It was doubly fitting that the event was held in Worcester, the beacon
light for so many Armenians over the generations. The link between
Armenia and Worcester is one of the more fascinating chapters in the
immigrant saga.
It began when some New England missionaries arrived in Turkey about
180 years ago in the hope of converting Muslims to Christianity. That
proved not feasible, but the missionaries were astonished to find,
deep in the Caucasus, a nation that professed a form of Christianity
going back almost to the time of St. Paul. The New Englanders soon
moved to establish contact with that faraway people. According to
Martin Deranian’s evocative account, “Worcester Is America – the
Story of the Worcester Armenians,” “in 1830 two young New England
ministers, Eli Smith and Harrison Gray Otis Dwight, set out under the
auspices of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
on a journey of over 2,000 miles into the interior of Turkey, Russia
and Persia to conduct a survey of the Armenians.” After a journey
taking more than a year, the two reported back that the Armenians
had never heard of America. A year later, a Worcester County native,
the Rev. William Goodell, arrived in Kharpert, Turkey, to organize
the initial mission to the Armenians. Rev. Goodell and members of his
family would be involved for generations in that missionary work. By
the 1850s a Protestant evangelical church and a theological seminary
had been established in Kharpert, and Armenians began to be aware of
the strange land across the sea.
The first Armenian in Worcester is thought to have arrived shortly
after the Civil War. Mr. Deranian estimates that there may have been 15
Armenians here in 1880. At least one of them was working for Washburn &
Moen, the huge wire and steel company located on Grove Street. He was
the first of many. By 1887, Armenians in Worcester numbered about 250,
most of them employed at Washburn & Moen.
Philip Moen, head of the firm, was a devout Christian and supporter
of Christian missions. He also was a shrewd businessman who valued
his Armenian workers for their loyalty, diligence and general
attitude of gratitude for the jobs they were given. They were not
trouble-makers. They did not support union-organizing efforts.
One exception was when Armenian workers struck the Whitin Co. in
Whitinsville because the company refused to fire its Turkish workers
after a report of massacres in Turkey.
We would consider Moen’s treatment of his Armenian workers as
exploitation. They were paid as little as 20 cents a day for work that
was hot, dangerous and exhausting. They lived in squalid conditions,
jammed into tenements, sometimes 15 or 20 to a room. They were often
insulted and abused by other workers.
To be called a “Turk” was a deep insult, but it was often heard in
those days. Corrupt mill bosses sometimes exacted bribes for anyone
hired. Mr. Deranian has many graphic accounts of the difficult
conditions those early Armenians faced at Washburn & Moen. Yet the
Armenians, in the main, were grateful to Philip Moen. They considered
him a fine Christian gentleman with their interests at heart. Many
attended his funeral.
One tribute to him noted that “he was always ready to sympathize with,
counsel and assist Armenians.” The large wreath that they presented
was emblazoned “Our Helper.” And largely because of Philip Moen,
by 1900 Worcester had the largest colony of Armenians in the land.
The Armenian Apostolic Church on Laurel Street, dedicated in 1891,
is said to have been the first in America.
Many of those early Armenians had never intended to become
Americans. Known as “sojourners,” they originally planned to make a
pile of money and return to their homeland. Some did return, sometimes
with tragic consequences.
But most remained, and became an important strand in the American
fabric.
As I observed the group at Clark, I could not help being impressed by
all that has been accomplished in three generations by the descendants
of those bewildered newcomers who filed into the Washburn & Moen
factory on Grove Street so long ago.
It’s the old immigrant story, of course, but the Armenian saga is
something special.
IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, CONSTRUCTION INCREASES 22.2% IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. In January and February of 2005,
37 new appartment houses of a total area of 15,281 sq.meters were
put into operation at the expense of the population, which is 5.7%
less than the index of the same period of 2004. According to the
RA National Statistical Service, construction work of 9 bln 82
mln drams (20.6 mln USD) was done during this period, including
building and assembly work of 7 bln 698 mln drams. The growth rate
of the construction work carried out during the first two months of
2005 made 22.2% compared with the same period of last year, that of
building and assembly work – 14.7%. Construction work of 331.4 mln
drams was done in the disaster zone with all the financial sources
in the period of January and February of 2005. 4 appartment houses
of a total area of 1,191 sq.meters were put into operation.
SYSTEM OF ART AND MUSIC SCHOOLS REQUIRES SERIOUS REFORMATION
YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 1, a meeting of executives
of the sphere of education and culture with Yerevan and regional
school directors and representatives of the department of culture
took place. The meeting was dedicated to the issue of necessity of
adoption of a law on the system of music and art schools. According
to the studies conducted by RA Ministry of Education and Science,
no retraining of teachers was held in the system in 1991. And the
curriculums and subject programs were last published in 1998. By the
government decree in 1996 232 schools passed on to the subordination
of local self-government bodies, as a result of which 62 schools were
closed. At present 170 schools with 4600 teachers and 24 thousand
pupils function. From 1996 the demand for attending classes of folk
instruments and folk crafts reduced. The number of applicants to
classes of piano mainly didn’t change and the number of applicants
to classes of string and wind instruments reduced. According to the
studies, the decrease in the number of pupils mainly depends on the
amount of the education fee, which fluctuates from 1500 to 10000 drams
(nearly 3-21 dollars). Sergo Yeritsian, RA Minister of Education and
Science, considers that first of all a law regulating the activity
of these schools should be adopted. According to the Minister, the
bill is to be worked out during 2-3 months and the legislative and
sublegislative acts are to be adopted in 2006-2007. Hovik Hoveyan, RA
Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs, reported that in 2004 November
the government approved the conception of aesthetic education. The
important provisions of the conception are improvement of the
system of management, establishment of a material-technical base,
working out of new curriculums and subject programs, accessibility
of education. H.Hoveyan mentioned that a program of development of
art education is being worked out with the RA Ministry of Education
and Science at present. The program will include the whole sphere of
art education, as well as comprehensive and secondary professional
schools. The program will be submitted to the government’s approval.
Religion notes
Boston Herald Interactive
“Doubting Thomas Sunday”
Friday, April 1, 2005
Eight days after Easter Sunday is called “Doubting Thomas Sunday.” On
Sunday, April 3, 11 a.m., the Rev. Avedis Boynerian, minister of the Armenian
Memorial Church, 32 Bigelow Ave., Watertown, will preach about how “Doubting
Thomas,” who had a crack in his wall of faith and became the scapegoat of the
church, became an apostle of the Risen Christ. The public is welcome to the
service.
ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/30/2005
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1) US Stance on Armenian Genocide May Ease Turkey-US Tensions
2) Armenia Makes New Bid for Extra US Aid
3) Switzerland Urges Turkey to Face The Past
4) Deputy Commander of US European Command Visits Yerevan
5) DM Says Azerbaijan Would Sustain Huge Defeat in War, Calls for `Painful’
Compromise Solution
6) Syrian Delegation at ARF Center
1) US Stance on Armenian Genocide May Ease Turkey-US Tensions
ISTANBUL (AFP)–The United States will help ease tensions with Turkey if it
sticks to its stance of not recognizing the “killings of Armenians under the
Ottoman Empire as genocide,” Anatolia news agency quoted a senior Turkish
official as saying.
Turkey expects Washington “to maintain the sound position on the issue it has
displayed in the past as a first step…[towards] leaving current disturbances
behind so that Turkish-US ties can progress on a healthy basis,” the head of
the National Security Council, Yigit Alpogan said.
“We believe the American administration will not give the green light to
slanders which render all Turks as children of murderers,” Alpogan told a
gathering of a Turkish-American business group.
Washington has so far refrained from terming the World War I massacres as
genocide, despite pressure from pro-Armenian lobbies.
Ankara is concerned that the Armenians will this year [on the 90th
anniversary
of the Armenian genocide] step up their campaign to have the events
acknowledged as genocide by Washington–at a time when Turkish-US relations
are
markedly strained by differences over Iraq.
In October 2000, a draft congressional resolution acknowledging the killings
as genocide was pulled from the House floor following an intervention by then
president Bill Clinton, who argued that the United State not damage its ties
with Turkey, a key Muslim ally.
Since then, however, those ties have deteriorated.
The Turkish parliament stunned Washington just before the occupation of Iraq
in March 2003 when it denied US troops access to Turkish territory for a
planned invasion of Iraq from the north.
Relations between the two NATO allies were further strained by US reluctance
to take military action against Turkish Kurd rebels in northern Iraq and
Ankara’s concern that Iraqi Kurds are getting too much power in post-war Iraq.
2) Armenia Makes New Bid for Extra US Aid
YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–The Armenian government has submitted new, more modest
proposals for additional US economic assistance under the Millennium Challenge
Account program, almost six months after presenting its initial application.
The Finance Ministry announced on Wednesday that the government has asked for
about $175 million worth of aid and hopes that its upcoming negotiations with
the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a US government agency managing
the
scheme, will be successful. “In the coming months the government of Armenia
and
the MCC will hold negotiations in order to reach a final agreement on the
issue,” the ministry said in a statement.
Armenia had initially sought $900 million worth of aid over three years, but
lowered expectations after Armenian and US officials met in October.
A Finance Ministry statement revealed the government approved the new aid
application on March 25 and submitted it to Washington on Tuesday. Most of the
requested money would be spent on rebuilding battered irrigation networks and
roads in rural regions of Armenia.
The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) was unveiled by President George W.
Bush last year. Armenia is among 16 developing nations eligible for the
program’s first $1 billion aid allocation. They were chosen on the basis of 16
indicators of political and economic reforms.
Armenia has already been a leading per-capita recipient of US assistance
which
has totaled more than $1.5 billion since 1992.
3) Switzerland Urges Turkey to Face The Past
(AFP)–Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey on Tuesday urged Turkey to
carry out a detailed study on the Armenians genocide, under Ottoman rule
during
World War I.
“We think that it is essential that every country conduct an in-depth
historical research of its own past, especially when the question is so
painful,” Calmy-Rey told reporters after talks with her Turkish counterpart
Abdullah Gul.
The Swiss minister was speaking on the first day of an official visit which
was originally supposed to take place in 2003, but was cancelled after the
Swiss canton of Vaud officially recognized the 1915 genocide of Armenians.
Shortly afterwards, the lower house of the Swiss parliament also followed
suit–against the Bern government’s advice–and adopted a similar resolution,
unleashing an angry response from Ankara.
Referring to Turkey’s call for an “unbiased” study by [Turkish] historians of
its past, Calmy-Rey called the move a “good idea,” but said she had
proposed to
Gul the inclusion of international experts in such a commission for the
credibility of the work.
4) Deputy Commander of US European Command Visits Yerevan
YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–Gen. Charles F. Wald, US European Command Deputy
(USEUCOM) Commander, arrived in Armenia on March 30 to discuss developing
US-Armenia military ties.
During his meeting with President Robert Kocharian, General Wald discussed
US-Armenia military technical cooperation, as well as developments in the
Karabagh conflict regulation.
Gen. Wald noted the importance for both for the US and Europe to ensure
stability and peace in the region.
While in Yerevan, General Wald and his staff will also meet with Defense
Minister Serge Sargsian and members of the Armenian military leadership.
USEUCOM, based in Stuttgart, Germany, is responsible for all US forces
operating across 91 countries in Europe, Africa, Russia, parts of Asia, and
the
Middle East, as well as most of the Atlantic Ocean. General Wald became Deputy
Commander of the United States European Command on Dec 2, 2002.
Meanwhile, the periodic session of the NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Partnership
Council’s Atlantic Policy Advisory Group will take place in Yerevan, March
31-April 1, with the participation of 65 representatives from NATO’s 38 member
and partner countries. They will discuss security issues in the Euro-Atlantic
region.
The deputy of the NATO Secretary General on political relations and security
policy issues, Günter Altenburg, will chair the session. He will also meet
with
President Kocharian, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, and Defense Minister
Sargsian.
5) DM Says Azerbaijan Would Sustain Huge Defeat in War, Calls for `Painful’
Compromise Solution
YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–Addressing parliamentary hearings on resolving the
Mountainous Karabagh conflict, Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsian
said he
has no doubts that the long-standing dispute can be solved only through
peaceful means, based on mutual compromises.
He cautioned, however, that if Azerbaijan resumes hostilities in an effort to
take Mountainous Karabagh back, it would `sustain a heavy defeat.’
“The price we might pay for it would depend on how strongly the Armenian
people and political forces back the army. If–God forbid–the situation in
Armenia resembles that of Azerbaijan of 1992-1994, we may face a catastrophe,”
he said. He also added that he did not rule out the possibility of resumption
of war.
`I did not deny such a possibility in 1995, 1998, and in 2000–and I do not
deny it now. There is always the threat of a new war and there are no
guarantees against it,’ he said.
Sargsian went on to argue that the regulation process would be painful for
both nations, as only a compromised solution is possible. `Compromise means
that you have to give in part of what you have, which is always a painful
process. The compromise solution must be first of all backed by Armenians and
not only by the political elite,’ he said.
Sargsian outlined acceptable compromises that include the implementation of
Council of Europe Resolution 1416, another referendum of independence in
Karabagh, and a return of seized lands. `We could make concessions on the
condition that Azeri side gives clear guarantees of non-resumption of military
actions which must be confirmed by authoritative international organizations
and states,’ he said.
6) Syrian Delegation at ARF Center
YEREVAN (Yerkir)–The delegation of 12 Arab tribal leaders from Syria, met
with
the leadership of Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Armenia on
Wednesday,
at the ARF Simon Vratsian Center in Yerevan.
The tribal leaders, who are participating in events marking the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian genocide, conveyed that their century-long
friendship with Armenian is a firm and lasting one.
Representatives of the Armenian parliament also met with the Arab leaders,
and
thanked them for respecting the memory of the genocide victims, as well as for
the kindness of their ancestors who gave refuge to the fragments of Armenians
who miraculously survived the genocide of Armenians by Ottoman Turkey in 1915.
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Slovene OSCE chairman discusses Nagornyy Karabakh issue in Armenia
STA news agency, Ljubljana
30 Mar 05
Yerevan, 30 March: Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, the OSCE
chairman-in-office, called on all concerned parties to step up efforts
in a bid to find a solution to the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict as he
wrapped up his visit to Armenia on Wednesday [30 March].
After meetings with top Armenian officials, Rupel encouraged all
parties to take advantage of what he said was “the existing window of
opportunity” and bolster efforts aimed at finding a solution.
Speaking to the press after a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan, Rupel said the OSCE – and Slovenia, too – was ready
to assist in the search for a lasting solution to the
conflict. According to him, Slovenia could host talks on the issue.
Oskanyan stressed that the OSCE was playing an important role in
trying to end the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.
Moreover, Oskanyan said he hoped Rupel would reiterate the stance that
violations of the cease-fire in Nagornyy Karabakh must stop when he
visits Azerbaijan on Saturday. Rupel said he intended to do that.
Apart from Oskanyan, Rupel also met Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan and Speaker of the National Assembly Artur Bagdasaryan. “I
am convinced that the guidance of the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan will be crucial for the successful development of the peace
process,” he said after the meeting with the president.
Earlier in the day, Rupel held talks with the leader of Nagornyy
Karabakh, Arkadiy Gukasyan, who was less optimistic that a solution to
the conflict could be found soon, as he is convinced that Azerbaijan’s
position will not change by summer.
Gukasyan, who is not internationally recognized as the leader of
Nagorno-Karabakh, stressed that the OSCE’s role in solving the
conflict was very important.
Asked by an Armenian journalist whether he considers Gukasyan to be a
tribal leader, since he refers to him as the leader and not the
president of Nagornyy Karabakh, Rupel said that he was also the leader
of the OSCE, which does not mean the OSCE is a tribe.
The simmering conflict in Nagornyy Karabakh, the ethnic-Armenian
enclave in Azerbaijan, is one of the issues in which the OSCE is
trying to assist the parties involved to find a peaceful
solution. Since February 2000, the organization has had its office in
Yerevan.
Moreover, Rupel stressed that Armenia had undertaken reforms and urged
Armenian officials to keep up these efforts. The OSCE, he said, was
ready to help in several fields, including election reform, the
freedom of the press and the fight on corruption.
He also called on the Armenian authorities to continue amending the
law on elections in order to ensure electoral fairness and
transparency.
Pointing to a number of attacks on journalists in Armenia, Rupel said
the free press was a key factor in the development of a democratic
society. He said he hopes the authorities would investigate all
attacks on journalists.
Rupel is scheduled to travel of Kyrgyzstan later tonight as he
continues his tour of the Caucasus.
GEORGIAN FRONTIER GUARDS WILL HAND ON SYMBOLIC BATON DEDICATED TO
60TH ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY IN GPW TO THEIR ARMENIAN COLLEAGUES ON
BAGRATASHEN BRIDGE
YEREVAN, MARCH 23. ARMINFO. Georgian frontier guards will ceremonially
hand on the symbolic baton dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of the
Victory in the Great Patriotic War to their Armenian colleagues on
Bagratashen Bridge bordering with Georgia at 15:00 today.
The Frontier Troops of the National Security Service of Armenia inform
ARMINFO that the symbolic baton will be taken wither by Commander of
the Frontier Troops of NSS of Armenia Colonel Vyacheslav Voskanyan
or his Assistant Lt.Colonel Armen Muradyan. Handing on the symbol
to each other, the Armenian frontier guards will take it along the
state border of Armenia with Georgia and on March 26 in the Armenian
town of Gyumri it will be handed on to the Command of the Frontier
Department of the RF Federal Service. Russian frontier guards, in
their turn, will take the symbol around the periphery of the state
border of Armenia protected by the Frontier Department of Federal
Security Service of Russia (frontier contingents in Gyumri, Meghri,
Artashat and Armavir). On April 4 at 11:00 Yerevan time a solemn
ceremony of finish will take place in Yerevan Park of Victory with
participation of the Commands of Frontier Troops of the NSS of Armenia
and the Frontier Department of FSS of Russia.
Azeri president says war against “weak” Armenia may start at any time
ANS TV, Baku
21 Mar 05
[Presenter] The commander-in-chief today commented on frequent and
intensive firing by the Armenian armed forces on the positions of the
Azerbaijani armed forces as well as residential and sowing areas over
the past two weeks. [Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev reiterated
that Azerbaijan has capability to start war at any time.
[Correspondent, over video of Ilham Aliyev speaking to journalists]
Aliyev offered his condolences to the families of martyrs who
sacrificed their lives for the integrity of our territories and called
on them to be patient.
[Ilham Aliyev] Their children became martyrs for their motherland. Of
course, it is a big tragedy. It is a huge distress and tragedy for
every family to lose their children. But this is war and everything
may happen at war. I wish them comfort. Let them be patient. Their
children became martyrs for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
This could be a comfort for them.
I want peace and do not want war. But at the same time we cannot
leave our lands under occupation. We must be ready for everything.
[Correspondent] The commander-in-chief said that Azerbaijan has
capability to start war at any time because the parties have not
signed a peace deal so far.
[Aliyev] There is cease-fire which is a sensitive issue. It is being
breached and you know that this is not in our interests because all
our successes do not necessitate us to violate the truce. As for any
change, like in any region, it depends on several factors. First of
all, as I said, if the international community takes action against
them, their position will inevitably change. If it does not, we will
have to make influence. There is no other alternative here. We need
to get stronger to make influence.
[Correspondent] Aliyev said that economy and the army should be
strengthened first. Only after that, Azerbaijan can dictate its
interests to Armenia.
[Aliyev] We want this [conflict] to be resolved peacefully. We want
this to happen under the influence of the international community
and as a result of the correct approach of the Armenian leadership
to this issue. If this does not happen, a new situation will occur
and we will see.
[Correspondent] The president also spoke about the report of the OSCE
fact-finding mission on the settlement of Armenians in the occupied
lands of Azerbaijan. He said that the mission has already confirmed
that there are over 10,000 Armenians on those territories, something
that fully supports Azerbaijan’s case. Azerbaijan will demand that
the Armenians should be unconditionally evicted from those territories.
[Aliyev] The Armenian side is weak. That is to say, their position is
weak. This has objective reasons. It is because they are unjust. They
have occupied the territories of another country, but want and
sometimes have managed to mislead and distract the international
community for many years. It does not work any longer. Our
comprehensive diplomatic efforts, and I would say comprehensive
diplomatic attacks have a ground. These are not empty statements.
Neither are they populist words. We are taking all our steps on the
basis of reasonable policy.
[Correspondent] Armenia has recently been helpless before the
achievements of Azerbaijani diplomacy, the president said. They will
be even in a more difficult situation unless they realize the truth,
end of quote.
Ayaz Mirzayev, Qanira Pasayeva, Emil Babaxanov for ANS.
Las Vegas Business Press, NV
Monday, March 21, 2005
Eastern European contractors visit local company
The SABIT delegation takes a break from its meeting at American Asphalt and
Grading Company.
BY IAN MYLCHREEST
BUSINESS PRESS
Executives at American Asphalt and Grading Company (AAG) found
themselves last week leading a seminar for a group of road construction
executives from the former Soviet Union. The group from Armenia,
Georgia, Belarus and Ukraine were participating in the U.S. Department
of Commerce’s Special American Business Internship Training (SABIT)
program.
The Russian-speaking executives were in town for the CONEXPO trade
show but took a morning to visit the offices of AAG where they were
given some insights into the road construction business in Clark
County. The SABIT tour was part of a month of discussions with
construction executives and public officials across the country.
AAG’s program for the visiting Europeans included meetings with
senior executives of all divisions including construction and
equipment. Jim Atkins, AAG’s vice president of the public works and
commercial divisions, led the discussions describing typical patterns
of road construction and funding from the various government bodies
for different types of roads. He also described for the Europeans
unfamiliar with Nevada’s native soils, the kind of chemical and other
treatment to lay a road bed as well as the road bed of crushed rock
compacted to about 90 to 95 percent density. The participants grasped
that, although they were unfamiliar with the configuraton in Atkins’
whiteboard illustration.
Also on the agenda were the various flood control mechanisms that
are part of the construction process. Those two were a surprise for
engineers more familiar with soils that absorb rainfall.
Perhaps most perplexing for the visitors was the funding mechanisms
for different kinds of roads. Gasoline taxes paid for construction,
explained Atkins, but some of the SABIT guests seemed perplexed
by distinction between the national highway system of the federal
government and state and county programs to build main roads.
Even more difficult was the concept of suburban roads that are built
by developers to city or county specifications, but then turned over
or “dedicated” to the local authorities after they are built. Atkins
explained that developers typically grade and prepare a site and
install infrastructure, including roads, as part of the development
costs.
After some questions and more discussion and the occasionally quizzical
look as the translators struggled to keep up with the lively back
and forth, the concept was grasped. Eventually, one attendee asked
if the roads were utlimately paid for by the buyers of houses and
other buildings in new developments.
“Absolutely,” Atkins replied to the translator who relayed the message
to the visitors. “Now you understand capitalism!”
The group seemed gratified as Atkins explained to them that AAG had
about 50 percent marketshare of grading in the valley and 30 percent
marketshare for paving asphalt.
SABIT is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of Commerce and
the private sector to promote market access through strong commercial
partnerships. Its training programs, according to the DOC Web site,
directly support Eurasian economic and civil society development by
encouraging market-based reforms, while generating valuable export
and investment opportunities for U.S. industry.
“Expanding commercial trade ties is critical to the economic well-being
of the United States as well as to the continued growth of the
countries of Eurasia,” says Tracy Rollins, director of SABIT. “The more
we expand trade, the more we foster democratic values and stability
abroad, all of which are vital to our security.”
AAG was found, says Erin Schumacher, an international trade specialist
and program recruiter at the DOC, through Internet research. “We
have to fill the time with company and site visits,” she adds. Atkins
says he was called by the DOC and was happy to oblige in showing the
Europeans an American contractor at work.
Atkins says his company has no ambitions. “No, we really don’t see
it opening up business opportunities for us. We’ve got all the work
we can do here.”
The delegation operated with two translators, who took turns in
explaining the Americans words in Russian. Schumacher says any Eastern
European over 30 is fluent in Russian because they were forced to learn
it under the Soviet regime. “We had to choose one language,” she says,
“and they all knew that.” The delegates wore wireless transmitters
and earphones to better understand their translators.
The SABIT delegation also visited Washington, DC, Boston and
Phoenix. They also undertook private visits to construction sites to
see American contracting in action.
Since 1990, over 1,000 organizations have hosted over 3,300 trainees
through SABIT, which has been credited with facilitating $300 million
in export revenues.
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