Author: Tigranian Ani

Hunger a threat to 30 million people in Europe – FAO

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 18 2004

PARIS, May 18 (Itar-Tass) – Some 30 million people are affected
by hunger in Central and Eastern Europe, David Sedic, an expert of
the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), has said in an
interview with the Liberation newspaper.

In his opinion, the situation if the worst in Latvia and Slovakia,
where five to six per cent of the people are nearly starving. The
figure for other Central European countries is about two percent,
Sedic said.

The situation is serious in many Balkan countries, especially in
Croatia, where 12 per cent of the people are affected by hunger.

The figure for Poland is only 1 per cent, but an alarming trend is
observed there: during the past ten years, the government failed
to reduce to below 30,000 the number of people, who are unable to
provide normal food for themselves.

The FAO expert mentioned Armenia and Tajikistan among the Eurasian
countries, where part of the population is suffering from insufficient
nourishment. The problem is also acute in Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are also facing the hunger problem, but to
a smaller degree.

Russia PM meets Armenia president

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 14 2004

MOSCOW, May 13 (Itar-Tass) – – Russia is ready to discuss all the
topics on the agenda of Russia-Armenian relations, Russian Prime
Minister Mikhail Fradkov said, opening a meeting with Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan. “Our relations are developing in all
directions,” he said.

The Armenian president arrived in Moscow for a three-day working
visit. “A discussion of issues of bilateral relations from the
point of view of the implementation of the agreements reached
at Russian-Armenian summit meetings and determination of new
possibilities of deepening cooperation will be in the focus of
attention of Russian-Armenian talks,” a highly placed source in the
Kremlin administration told Itar-Tass.

According to the source, in particular, the sides are to “consider
ways of strengthening economic relations, issues of interaction in the
field of energy, transport, investments, and real sector of economy
where Russian interests are weightily represented in the fiscal sphere
and key industries.”

Council to apologise

North Shore Times (Fri) (Australia)
May 14, 2004 Friday

A GENOCIDE commemoration was marred by a series of blunders by
Willoughby Council recently.

The event, held each year as the focal point for the Armenian
Community’s commemorations in Sydney, was disrupted by a
double-booking of the Town Hall.

In a stunning oversight, the council’s Heritage Committee was granted
use of the front lawn and stairs leading to the main entrance to the
hall, forcing commemoration attendees to sneak through activities to
a side entrance.

Adding further distress was the presence of a Turkish food seller at
the entry to the hall. More than 1.5 million Armenians died during
the genocide carried out by Turkish authorities from April, 1915.

In the audience on the night were several survivors of the genocide.
Khajaque Kortian of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee
said he expected full access to the hall, having booked and paid a
year ago.

“The main entry was completely blocked which I found strange given we
normally can’t even put tables there,” Mr Kortian said. “There was
confusion about whether it was being held outside or inside.

“It’s not just for our community, it needs to be addressed. No hirer
should have to go through that.”

Councillor Judith Rutherford said the community and food sellers
should receive partial refunds.

“It was a disgrace and people were upset. Whoever had organised it
had not thought through the significance,” she said.

” If you know the history of that whole event that was just a really
silly thing to do.”

The council said it would send letters of apology to organisers.

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected] Website;

Upon the instructions of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, the Canadian
Youth Mission to Armenia (CYMA) executive has designed this yearâ^À^Ùs program
as
attached

PRIMAT’S MESSAGE ADDRESSED TO THE PARTICIPANTS

Dear Friends,

I am elevated by the honor, privilege and joy to address the
participants of CYMA 2004, who are going to accomplish CYMA’s 11th
mission to Armenia. To me, CYMA implies dedication, courage and a
future giant step towards strengthening our Christian identity and
Armenian integrity.

During my almost one year tenure as the Primate of this Diocese,
I have visited our parishes established and mission alike. At those
visitations I have met with wonderful enthusiastic young people who
once have participated in CYMA’s various missions in Armenia and now
they assume responsible rolls in their respective parishes.

CYMA is a movement that shall never end. It is a movement which
creates a sense of belonging; it is a movement which bridges the
Diaspora with Hayastan in a practical manner.

There is no talk, there is only action in Canadian Youth Mission to
Armenia, to the Mother See Holy ETCHMIADZIN.

Dear CYMA participants,

I call you as pilgrims. You are going home – ARMENIA, to bring
flavor and fragrance of our country to Canada, becoming apostles for
the prosperity of our Nation and Holy Church. Bless You.

As the spiritual leader of the Armenian Church in Canada, I ask
from my people to encourage your sons’ and daughters’ mission
spiritually, morally and financially, supporting them on the verge
of becoming new apostles of our Holy Church,

Hayastan and the Diaspora.

With Love and Prayer,
Bp. Bagrat Galstanyan
Primate

JOIN CYMA TODAY!

Contact your local recruitment office today or simply e-mail us
for an application form at [email protected]. We look forward
to answering any of your questions.

2004 will mark the 11th mission of the Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia
(CYMA).

To date, over 400 people have participated in this program, making
it one of the most successful youth programs throughout the Armenian
community worldwide.

TESTIMONIALS:

“Last year’s trip meant a lot to me. I was given the opportunity to
live and experience how Armenians have lived for many years. It was
very educational and emotional, I still speak of it to this day. I
can’t wait to go back and do it all over again. This trip really
put in perspective who Armenians are and it turn, who I really
am. HAYASTAN! HAYASTAN! HAYASTAN!”

Aris Cevahirciyan, Participant 2004, Executive Committee 2004

“Seeing Armenia was like a dream – my wildest and best one; I will
definitely go back to relive the experience.”

Melanie Kalinian, Participant 2004, Executive Committee 2004

THE CYMA LEGACY

1993 Built a school in Ararat 1999 Renovated Dzaghgatzor orphanage

1994 Renovated a seminary and adjacent church in Harich 2000 Renovated
school in Aradashen
1995 Renovated â^À^ÜNor Tbrotzâ^À^Ý school in Ararat 2001 Youth
Pilgrimage
commemorating 1700th anniversary
of Christianity
1996 Renovated â^À^ÜMeghetiâ^À^Ý childrensâ^À^Ù day campus in Dilijan 2002
Continued renovations of school in Aradashen
1997 Day Camp for 200 orphans in Dzaghgatzor 2004 CYMAâ^À¦ Touch Your
Roots!
1998 Renovated Khor Virab & conducted day camps in
Ararat 2004 CYMAâ^À¦ Many Hands, One Heart!

CYMA Honorary Board of Directors
Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan
Senator Jacques Hébert
Seantor Shirley Maheu
Dr. Arshavir Gundjian, Prof. of Engineering at McGill University
Taro Alepian, Group President/Industrial at SWC-Lavalin

Important Information

Pre-Trip Orientation: July 5th – July 7th, 2004

Departure Date: July 8th, 2004

Return Date: August 7th, 2004

Application Deadline: May 22nd, 2004

$500 Deposit by: May 22, 2004

Participation fee: $2,500 (from Toronto or Montreal)

Note: It is Important to note here that all participants are expected to pay
the full participation fee.

Accomodations

CYMA members will live with pre-selected families in the village of
Aradashen, in the province of Armavir in Armenia. Each home will
accommodate 2 or 4 participants who will have the opportunity to
bond with their families, learn their way of life and become an
integral part of the community.

Christian Outreach Program

Visitations will be made by CYMA participants and clergy, offering
spiritual and humanitarian relief for families in extremely difficult
circumstances. This will give our participants the opportunity to
understand the hardships that many Armenians are having to
endure.

Construction and Renovation

This yearâ^À^Ùs mission takes us to Yerevan, where 4 days a week, we
will be renovating a centre for the physically challenged youth of
Yerevan. This yearâ^À^Ùs team will be working on the restoration of the
walls, floor and repainting of the rooms and hallways of the centre.

Travel Excursions

Participants will have many opportunities to visit churches,
landmarks and monuments. Three days a week, as well as
weekends, and the last few days of the mission will be devoted
primarily to these excursions. The many important places to visit will
include the Holy See of Etchmiadzin, Genocide Memorial, Lake
Sevan, Yerevan, etcâ^À¦

Children’s Workshop

This day camp will give CYMA participants the opportunity to
interact with the local children by doing arts & crafts, activities and
playing sports. The workshop will take place at the nearby school
in Aradashen, twice a week, for half a day. It will also include a
nutritious lunch, and the children will also be given school supplies
on behalf of CYMA.

Hay-Ess Program Under the guidance of local professionals, participants
will take part
in workshops to learn the history of the land and of the church, as
well as the culture through singing, dancing and drawing. This
program was added in 2002 and proved to be one of the most
enjoyable parts if the mission.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Rt. Rev. Fr. Ararat Kaltakjian â^À^Ó CYMA Director
(514) 276-9479 Zaven Gunjian â^À^Ó (514) 483-3766
Choghik Aghazarian â^À^Ó Assistant to CYMA Director Karen Mouradian â^À^Ó
Treasurer,
Executive Member
(514) 337-0984 – email: [email protected]
Kareen Proudian â^À^Ó (514) 939-9842 Bedros Kokorian â^À^Ó (416) 292-7729
TORONTO â^À^Ó CYMA Recruitment Office
920 Progress Court, Scarborough, Ontario M1G 3T5
tel: (4160 431-3001 fax: (416) 431-0269 MONTREAL â^À^Ó CYMA Recruitment
Office
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont, Quebec H2V 3H2
tel: (514) 276-9479 fax: (514) 276-9960

Hogasapian rejects Aoun’s remarks about Armenians

The Daily Star, Lebanon
May 5 2004

Beirut MP Jean Hogasapian rejected former Army Commander Michel Aoun’s
recent remarks, saying Lebanon’s Armenians did not follow democratic
traditions and were manipulated by remote control by those controlling
them politically.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the MP said he would like to clarify to
Aoun that Lebanon’s Armenians had done a good job so far integrating
themselves in this country’s political life.

The Armenians “have set up political alliances and have successfully
interacted with all parts of the Lebanese community around them,”
the MP said, adding that the Armenians “abide by Lebanon’s political
principles, specifically those dealing with democracy and political
liberty.”

Commenting on Sunday’s Mount Lebanon municipal elections, Hogasapian
said Armenians had “exercised their right to vote and were not
influenced by any political pressure.”

Aoun-backed candidates in Sunday’s elections had predominantly failed
to give a good account of themselves. Aoun had held Armenian voters
partly to blame for that failure.

06 May 2004

U.S. Names Countries Eligible for New Assistance Funds
Government corporation also plans to help other countries qualify

The recently created Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the U.S.
government has named 16 countries eligible to apply for development aid from
an innovative new program.

In a May 6 news release, the MCC said that its board of directors selected
the countries — Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Georgia, Ghana,
Honduras, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua,
Senegal, Sri Lanka and Vanuatu — based on their governance, social
investment and economic freedom.

The MCC said it also approved a program to help some other countries meet
eligibility requirements.

The Millennium Challenge Account program announced by President Bush in 2002
is designed to help poor countries spur the economic growth and attract the
investment necessary to further development. Congress has appropriated $1
billion for the MCC for this fiscal year.

Following is the text of the release:

(begin text)

Millennium Challenge Corporation
May 6, 2004

The Millennium Challenge Corporation Names
MCA Eligible Countries

Washington, DC — Today, the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) selected the 16 countries eligible to apply for Millennium
Challenge Account (MCA) assistance in FY04 [fiscal year 2004]. MCC, a newly
created government corporation designed to work with some of the poorest
countries in the world, is based on the principle that aid is most effective
when it reinforces sound political, economic, and social policies that
promote economic growth.

“This is a historic day for the Millennium Challenge Corporation,” said
Secretary of State, Colin L. Powell, Chair of the MCC Board. “The
President’s vision has come to pass, and today’s decision by the Board of
Directors is a major step in implementing the vision of the MCC.”

The selected countries include: Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde,
Georgia, Ghana, Honduras, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique,
Nicaragua, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Vanuatu. In making its determinations, the
Board considered both the past and current policy performance of the
candidate countries in the areas of governing justly, investing in their own
people and promoting economic freedom. The Board also considered trends that
indicated policy improvement or slippage.

“Our mission — encouraging and rewarding good policies that produce
sustainable economic growth — holds profound implications for freedom and
security across the globe,” MCC CEO [chief executive officer] Paul
Applegarth said today. “Today’s decision demonstrates the clear commitment
of the U.S. to reducing poverty and human suffering.”

The Board also approved a “Threshold Country” program, which will be
directed toward a limited number of candidate countries that have not met
the requirements for MCA eligibility but demonstrate a significant
commitment to meeting the requirements for eligibility. The Threshold
Country program will provide an added incentive to countries that are
committed to reform, and will be used to assist such countries in making
further progress towards becoming eligible for MCA assistance in future
years. MCC expects to work closely with USAID [U.S. Agency for International
Development] in this effort.

The United States is committed to the MCC as an innovative approach to
delivering foreign aid. Congress has appropriated $1 billion for the MCC for
this fiscal year, and President Bush has requested $2.5 billion for FY05.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: )

A1 Plus | 00:59:30 | 29-04-2004 | Politics | PACE SPRING SESSION |

ARMEN RUSTAMYAN: “BOTH OPPOSITION AND AUTHORITIES MUST STOP”

“Ayb-Fe”: “Did the events occurring in Armenia hamper you?”

Armen Rustamyan: “I don’t think that we could get assistance in Yerevan. We
must not try to solve our problems in PACE. We must stop for a while, come
to ourselves and realize that the process for the European integration must
be expedited. By the way, Opposition and Authorities must do it jointly. And
if we don’t manage we will lose”.

City News Service
April 27, 2004 Tuesday

Man Pleads Innocent to Nephew’s Slaying

PASADENA

A man accused of killing his 18-year-old nephew in Glendale six
months ago and fleeing to Armenia before returning voluntarily to the
United States pleaded innocent today to a murder charge. Gaik
Shakhmuradyan, 33, was jailed on $2 million bail pending a Friday
appearance in Pasadena Superior Court. A date is scheduled to be set
then for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to send
him on to trial. Shakhmuradyan is charged with murder for the Oct. 20
shooting death of Edvin Isagulyan. Isagulyan was gunned down in the
500 block of South Glendale Avenue. After the crime, detectives
determined the suspect was the victim’s uncle, but received no
cooperation from the family, Glendale police Lt. Jon Perkins said
yesterday. The detectives eventually learned the suspect had fled to
Abovyan, Armenia, Perkins said. Glendale detectives went to Armenia
and, with help from the United States Embassy and Armenian law
enforcement officials, found and spoke with Shakhmuradyan, according
to the detective. Shakhmuradyan returned to Los Angeles last
Thursday, accompanied by a Glendale police detective who went to
Armenia to question him, the lieutenant said. “During interviews, the
suspect offered to voluntarily return to the United States and face
the pending charges against him,” Perkins said. “We believe this is
the first time that an individual who has fled to Armenia has
returned to the United States to face murder charges,” he added.

NT Highlights #17 (519)
3 May, 2004

The Caucasus and Europe

By Haroutiun Khachatrian

Last week we saw the three leaders of the South Caucasus countries together.
As always, this happened out of the region, this time in Warsaw. The
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan prevents organization of such
meetings inside the region, the most natural place for this. The fact that
the leaders met in Poland, and just a couple of days before this countries
adhered the EU, has a symbolic meaning as well. The three countries have
declared their commitment to European values and eventually, tend to
integrate into Europe. The reality still looks fairly far from such a
perspective, reasons differing for each of the countries. Whereas Armenia
and Azerbaijan are being criticized for failing to meet the European
standards of democracy and human rights protection, Georgia’s main problem
is lack of an effective statehood per se. Many hope that contacts with
European structures will help the counties to overcome the above mentioned
problems (of course, many other problems as well, but these ones are the
fundamental difficulties). How realistic these hopes are?

A key factor is how sincere the three leaders are in declaring their
pro-European orientation? One can only be sure that the Georgian President
is indeed committed to those values. As for the other two, they probably
would not mind developing democracy and human rights further, but with the
precondition that these principles would not endanger their personal powers.

The analysts expect that all the three countries will soon become part of
the so-called Wider Europe, i.e., given some privileges in their contacts
with the EU. However, the EU would not be happy to cooperate with the
leaders (I mean those of Armenia and Azerbaijan) who are not very accurate
in fulfilling their commitments concerning the basic human rights. But the
irony is that the European structures (both the Council of Europe and the EU
itself) may have no adequate leverages to improve the situation in these two
countries. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have enough cap acities to cooperate
with EU in the economy matters (both have good performance in recent years),
without improving the human rights records.

Despite all calls and checks by the bodies like PACE, Kocharian will deny
that the men who crashed the video cameras at the rallies enjoyed the
support of the authorities, or that armored vehicles were used to block the
roads in provinces on the days of expected opposition rallies. So, the
progress in democracy does not look to be likely in the near future, both in
Armenia and in Azerbaijan.

—

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
May 4, 2004
CONTACT: David Zenian
E-mail: [email protected]

ASSEMBLY, AGBU AND WESTERN DIOCESE:
TOGETHER AT CALIFORNIA ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

Los Angeles, CA – A joint delegation representing the Armenian Assembly, the
Southern California District of the AGBU and the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church joined members of the California State Assembly in
Sacramento last week in marking the 89th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.

Traveling from Los Angeles to Sacramento as a single delegation to
participate in the annual “California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian
Genocide of 1915-1923” further reinforced the unity of purpose by the three
major non-partisan Armenian organizations which emerged from their
cooperation at the Assembly’s three-day National Conference and Banquet in
Washington earlier this month – the largest such advocacy gathering in the
nation’s capital.

The National Conference and Banquet brought together hundreds of activists
from across the United States to Washington to advocate for issues of
importance for not only the Armenian-American community, but for Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh.

“I am happy we have a coalition with the AGBU, the Armenian Assembly and the
Diocese and that we are speaking with one voice again today in Sacramento,”
said Primate of the Western Diocese Archbishop Hovnan Derderian at a
luncheon with State Assembly members.

“The AGBU, with its strong network of chapters and schools, is committed to
serving the Armenian-American community at the local and state level,” AGBU
Southern California District Chairman Vahe Imasdounian said.

Archbishop Derderian, who led the special opening prayer at the State
Assembly, was joined at the California Day of Remembrance event by Assembly
Western Office Chairman Richard Mushegain, Board of Directors member Lisa
Kalustian, Assembly Western Office Director Lena Kaimian, Western Office
Deputy Director Nicole Shahenian and AGBU Southern California District
Chairman Vahe Imasdounian.

“I was very pleased by the response that our delegation received from the
members of the State Legislature and the support for our cause,” Mushegain
said.

In his homily, Archbishop Derderian said:

“In our prayers we thank God for our many great friends in the California
State Legislature who have stood with the Armenian-American community
throughout the many years in reaffirming the record on the Armenian Genocide
and establishing relations with Armenia.”

Following the Archbishop’s prayer, several members of the California State
Assembly also spoke and expressed their support for California Assembly
Joint Resolution (AJR-73) which was introduced by Assemblyman Joseph
Simitian (D-Palo Alto).

Among them were California State Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer
(D-Glendale) Assemblymen Greg Aghazarian (R-Stockton), Carol Liu
(D-LaCanada/Passadena), John Longville (D-San Bernardino) and Mark Wyland
(R-Del Mar).

After the unanimous passage of AJR-73, the delegation met with California’s
new speaker of the State Assembly Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles).

California was one of the first States to affirm and recognize the Armenian
Genocide and designate April 24 as a “Day of Remembrance for the Armenian
Genocide of 1915-1923.”

This year, in a letter to State Senator and California Senate Education
Committee Chairman John Vasconcellos, the Armenian Assembly advocated for
the passage of a key resolution which would ensure that high school history
and social science textbooks fairly and accurately portray human rights
violations and historical atrocities of the 20th century.

In her letter to Vasconcellos, Assembly Western office Director Lena Kaimian
urged the committee to pass (California State) Assembly Concurrent
Resolution 116 which will help provide “a fair and accurate age-appropriate
portrayal of historical atrocities of the 20th century, including, but not
limited to, the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923, the Rwandan Genocide of
1994, and the Bosnian-Serbian human rights violations of the 1990s.”

Learning about these crimes, Kaimian said in her letter, “will instill in
our students the importance of personal dignity and human rights.”

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

NR#2004-050

Photograph available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following link:

CAPTION: L to R: Assembly Board Members Lisa Kalustian and Richard
Mushegain, Assembly Western Office Deputy Director Nicole Shahenian, Rev.
Yeghia Hairabedian, Sen. Charles Poochigian, Asm. Negret McLeod, Speaker
Fabian Nunez, Arch. Hovan Derderian, Asm. Joseph Simitian, Asm. Carol Liu,
AGBU Southern California District Chairman Vahe Imasdounian, and Assembly
Western Office Director Lena Kaimian.