Author: Vardapetian Ophelia

New J’lem master plan seeks to curb Old City overcrowding
By Nadav Shragai

Haaretz
14 Sept 04

Jerusalem officials unveiled a new master plan for the city yesterday,
the first since 1959.

Mayor Uri Lupolianksy, city engineer Uri Sheetrit, and the head of
the planning team, former Jerusalem district planner, Moshe Cohen,
presented the plan, which calls for “massive intervention” to prevent
overcrowding in the Old City.

The plan envisions using government funds to offer alternative housing
outside the Old City walls to interested Old City residents.

A similar plan was proposed in the past by an Interior Ministry team
that looked into the situation in the Old City at the behest of the
Ministerial Committee for Jerusalem Affairs.

However, it was not implemented due to its political sensitivity.

The plan involves thinning out the population in all quarters of the
Old City, except the only one restored so far – the Jewish Quarter –
as a means of slowing down the rapid population growth.

At 119.5 people per dunam, population density in the Old City is 10
to 20 times greater than other areas of the city, and growing.

Plan needs city approval

Lacking a master plan, the city has relied over the years on partial
plans.

The new, comprehensive 464-page plan, which deals with virtually
every aspect of life in the capital, needs to be discussed by the
local and district planning commissions before it can be approved.

The plan notes that a great deal of the illegal construction in
the Old City takes place in interior courtyards and on the roofs of
existing structures, especially in the Muslim Quarter but also in
the Christian and Armenian Quarters.

It calls for the reconstruction of the Anata refugee camp in northern
Jerusalem, although according to ideas put forward by Israeli
politicians in recent years, Anata will not be within the Jerusalem
city limits and will be transferred to the Palestinian Authority.

The plan also proposes tripling the size of neighborhood parks,
which now cover an area of 2,638 dunams.

The plan recommends keeping the present skyline, with its view of
the city’s landmarks.

It limits the height of buildings in some areas, while allowing
high-rise construction in others.

In the center of the city, the plan envisions construction of buildings
between 24 and 33 stories.

PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-1) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:

Minister Oskanian Meets with NATO Secretary General, Discusses NATO Baku
Exercises

During a two-day working visit to Brussels, Armenia¹s Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian met with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
on Monday, September 13. The meeting took place just as Azerbaijan
continued to reject Armenian officers¹ participation in NATO Best
Effort Exercises to be held in Baku this week. The Secretary General
stated NATO¹s decision to cancel the exercises if Azerbaijan continued
to reject the participation of a member state. Minister Oskanian
welcomed NATO¹s principled stance on the matter, regretting this
missed opportunity for regional cooperation. Armenia, the Minister
said, remained ready to participate in and host NATO activities.

The Secretary General stated his satisfaction at Armenia¹s level
of engagement in NATO¹s Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, as well
as Armenia¹s recent decision to enter NATO¹s Individual Partnership
Action Plan.

Minister Oskanian said Armenia welcomes NATO¹s Istanbul declaration
in June to place greater emphasis on cooperation with the Caucasus
and Central Asia. The Secretary General¹s appointment of a Special
Representative to the Caucasus and Central Asia, as well as a Liaison
Officer in the three countries of the Caucasus is certain to strengthen
such cooperation, the two agreed. The Minister also said now that the
first Armenian contingent has returned from Kosovo, Armenia expects to
continue its participation in KFOR. Armenia looks forward to hosting
the Euro Atlantic Partnership Council¹s Seminar on Contribution to a
More Favorable Security Environment thru Public Information, to be held
in Yerevan this October, as well as the Annual Session of the Atlantic
Political Advisory Group of the EAPC, also in Yerevan, in April 2005.

Armenia¹s minister briefed the Secretary General on the status of
the Nagorno Karabakh peace process.

Minister Oskanian also met with US Ambassador to NATO, Nicholas
Burns. The two discussed Armenia¹s engagement in NATO programs,
regional security concerns, as well as issues related to conflict
resolution and confidence building.

On the same day, the Minister also had meetings scheduled with Belgian
Foreign Minister Karel de Goucht, as well as the European Union
Special Representative to the Caucasus, Ambassador Heikki Talvitie.

Khatami rules out Iranian province’s merger with Azerbaijan

Mediamax news agency
9 Sep 04

Yerevan, 9 September: The unification of Azerbaijan [Republic] and
the Iranian province of Eastern Atropatena [Iran’s East Azarbayjan
Province] (so-called Southern Azerbaijan) is out of the question,
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said in Yerevan today.

The Iranian leader said this today at the meeting with the teaching
staff and students of Yerevan State University, Mediamax news agency
reported.

Pointing out that Iran and Azerbaijan are sovereign states,
Mohammad Khatami stressed the important role of ethnic Azeris in
Iran’s politics, economy, science and culture. He also recalled that
one of the Iranian leaders, an ethnic Azerbaijani, took part in the
eight-year Iran-Iraq war.

Iran’s Khatami Pledges Closer Ties With Armenia
By Armen Zakarian and Ruzanna Khachatrian 09/09/2004 09:22

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Sept 9 2004

Iran’s President Mohammad Khatami described on Wednesday his country’s
relationship with Armenia as a benchmark of peaceful co-existence and
cooperation between neighbors on the first day of an official visit
to Yerevan where he was given a red-carpet reception.

Khatami was greeted at Yerevan airport by virtually all members of
Armenia’s ruling cabinet before going into talks with President Robert
Kocharian. The two leaders signed a framework treaty on bilateral
cooperation which they said will further strengthen political and
economic links between the two nations.

They also presided over the signing of several other agreements
covering the energy sector, customs administration and culture.

“The relationship between the Armenian and Iranian peoples can serve
as the best example for all those who want to live side by side and
respect each other’s sovereignty,” Khatami declared at an ensuing
joint news conference with Kocharian.

“We have felt obliged to establish and deepen relations with Armenia
since its independence,” he said. “Every year that followed 1991 saw
a further development of our relations. The agreements signed today
give us hope that they will continue to deepen in the future.”

“I declare that this relationship is to the benefit of the sides but
not to the detriment of anybody else,” Khatami added in an apparent
bid to allay concerns expressed by other regional states.

Neighboring Azerbaijan has been the most vocal critic of that
cooperation. Many Azerbaijani politicians openly accuse the
Islamic Republic of effectively siding with Christian Armenia in
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Iran has always denied such claims,
with Khatami stressing during a visit to Baku last month that Tehran
recognizes Azerbaijani sovereignty over the disputed region.

“We are ready to make every effort to help resolve crises existing
in the region, including Nagorno-Karabakh, and to contribute to
the establishment of a lasting peace and stability in the region,”
Khatami said in a speech at the Armenian parliament later in the day.

Iran is widely regarded in Armenia as a vital geopolitical partner
and having close ties with the Islamic Republic is among few subjects
of consensus in the Armenian political arena. The Armenian opposition
underlined this fact when deputies representing it briefly suspended
their boycott of parliament sessions to hear Khatami’s speech.

Kocharian, meanwhile, said that Armenia and Iran should pay
particular attention to developing their economic cooperation. He
singled out the energy sector where the two nations plan to implement
multimillion-dollar joint projects.

The biggest of them is the construction of a pipeline that will
ship Iranian natural gas to Armenia and possibly other countries. An
agreement on the implementation of the $120 million project was signed
by the two governments in Yerevan last May.

Armenia’s ambassador to Tehran, Gegham Gharibjanian, told RFE/RL this
week that work on the Iranian section of the pipeline is already
underway and will soon begin on the Armenian side. Energy Minister
Armen Movsisian had said earlier that the Armenian government will
receive a $30 million loan from Iran to finance the construction of
the Armenian section.

Despite the energy projects, the volume of Armenian-Iranian trade
has steadily declined in recent years and made up only 3.5 percent
of Armenia’s external commercial exchange last year.

57th Annual DPI/NGO Conference
Millennium Development Goals: Civil Society Takes Action
8-10 September 2004
United Nations Headquarters, New York

This year’s DPI/NGO Conference aims to support the worldwide efforts
to mobilize civil society behind the Millennium Development Goals. It
is a Conference with a practical, substantive and activist agenda
that arises from urgent concerns and pressing deadlines.

The Conference brings together a diverse group of presenters, including
UN officials, government representatives, MDG campaign activists,
media representatives, academics and, most importantly, people from
the front lines where the urgent need for the implementation of the
MDGs is most clearly felt.

The plenary sessions are organized to present an overall picture of
the Goals. Our speakers will assess the current status of the MDGs,
address obstacles that threaten their realization, share innovative
approaches to partnerships and discuss civil society campaigns that
are effective at stimulating broader public awareness and support
for replicable and sustainable programmes and campaigns.

Intolerance, Terrorism and Community Policing

Sponsored by the International Associates of Applied Psychology and
African Human Rights Heritage

Conference Room D

Clashes caused by intolerance of cultural differences and societal
values, religious practices, and political systems impede progress
in implementing the MDGs.

This workshop will explore the nature of these obstacles and present
psychological best practices to mitigate them. Speakers will discuss
the role of community-based peacebuilding, good governance and
socio-economic cooperation in keeping with the United Nations motto
“from words to actions” for MDG achievement.

Moderator: Michael Frese, President, International Associates of
Applied Psychology, United Kingdom and Germany

Speakers: Baffour Anning, International Chairman, African Human Rights
Heritage, Ghana Judy Kuriansky, Professor, Columbia University
Teacherâ^À^Ùs College Anie Kalayjian, Adjunct Professor of
Psychology, Fordham University Mosche Banai, Professor of Management,
Baruch College, City University of New York

For more information go to the U.N. website at
or email [email protected]

IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO COMBAT MIGRATION: WE CAN COMBAT THE REASONS CAUSING MIGRATION

ARKA News Agency – Interview
Sept 6 2004

Gagik Yeghanyan’s An Exclusive Interview of the Head of the
Department of Migration and Refugees adjunct to the RA Government to
ARKA News Agency.

ARKA – For the last two years the structure of migration processes
changed in Armenia. If before the migration balance was negative,
then now this indicator equals to zero. So, how is the situation at
present?

G. Yeghanyan – In June 2004 we recorded a positive migration balance:
the number of people who returned to Armenia exceed by 11400 people
the number of those leaving the country. At the same time, according
to the data for the first half a year of 2004, the migration balance
is negative in Armenia. However, those leaving the country cannot be
defined as emigrants, and those coming to Armenia– as immigrants. All
of them are passengers crossing the border. Serious studies are
necessary to find out the reasons these people return to the republic
or leave it. The data of our department– is a nice raw material, on
the base of which one can draw a conclusion that if, for example, the
number of people leaving the republic keeps growing, then dominating
emigration –like disposition is observed. In order to see the
regularity in migration processes, one should follow them during
quite a long period. At that, migration has some sluggishness: even
if today the reasons for migration disappear, the process of
migration will not stop at once.

ARKA – What do fluctuations in migration balance depend on?

G. Yeghanyan – Migration in Armenia is of seasonal character. Thus,
during the first months of spring the number of people leaving
Armenia grows, as people usually leave in the quest of seasonal jobs.
In June almost always our department records positive balance: the
reason is that in connection with the summer holidays most people
want their children to spend holidays in their motherland. In autumn,
on the contrary, the negative balance grows, since those who came to
spend their holidays in Armenia go back. In the end of autumn again
positive balance is recorded: seasonal workers come back from abroad.
By New Year the number of people coming to Armenia exceeds those
leaving it, as most people want to spend their favorite festival with
their families.
In 2000 the negative migration balance amounted to about 60 thsd
people in the country. This figure didn’t change in 2001. The studies
show that from 1992 to 2001 a definite negative balance was recorded
in Armenia. At that, in 1992-1994 mass migration amounted to about
150 thsd people yearly. For the last three years the migration
balance is almost zero. Thus, we can assume that in 2002-2003 the
factors causing such migration significantly reduced. One of the main
factors causing migration in Armenia, is the lack of work, according
to a sociological survey: the lack of work as such, the lack of
specialized work or work paid well, and difficulties connected with
entrepreneurship. Classically it’s called economic migration and not
emigration. The geography of migration from Armenia changes – these
are CIS, while 90% of people leave for Russia. There is a simple
explanation of it: Armenia has no visa regime with Russia, there are
no obstacles connected with the language, and there are trade
relations.
I want to emphasize, that it’s impossible to combat migration. It’s a
natural process. We can combat only the reasons causing migration.
The so-called ethnic factor also matters. For example, the life
standard of an Armenian farmer in Ararat valley is much better than
that of a farmer in steppe regions of Russia. However, it will never
occur to people living in the regions of Russia to leave their
country. Unfortunately, the affection of Armenians towards their land
is weak.
ARKA – How many citizens have applied for being provided with a
shelter in Armenia?

G. Yeghanyan –This number grows annually. This year, for example this
number doubled. During the first half a year the number of people
looking for a shelter in Armenia made over 100 people, whereas during
the whole year of 2003 their number made 110 people. This year the
number of people willing to find shelter in Armenia grew, mainly,
because of the events in Iraq, where many Iraqi people of Armenian
origin came to Armenia from. Besides Iraq, a small number of refugees
came from Iran and Afghanistan.
It’s already two years that Armenia has made it possible through the
legislation to provide shelter to citizens who were forced to leave
their countries because of war. Such people have the status of “a
person under temporary protection”.

ARKA – How many refugees from Azerbaijan live in Armenia at present?

G. Yeghanyan – Unfortunately, we have old data: as of 1997 about 300
thsd refugees lived in Armenia. We do our best to have more precise
data about it.

ARKA – Have many Azerbaijani refugees have become the citizens of
Armenia?

G. Yeghanyan – The speed of becoming citizens of Armenia has reduced
a little. At present, about 66 thsd. refugees from Azerbaijan living
in Armenia became citizens of RA. Submission of applications for
becoming citizens of Armenia is not just handing in the old passport,
but also the result of a refugee-society relations. From this
standpoint the expectations of refugees were very high in the light
of the lack of adequate understanding on the part of the society. For
the last two –three years, for example, the cases of driving refugees
out of hostels are not rare. Yet, there is some progress: if only 5
thd refugees wanted to become citizens of Armenia till 2000, then for
the last 4 years their number amounted to 61-62 thsd. At that, 11
thsd refugees still have no housing. However, there is progress here
as well: already in May 2004 the Government of the republic approved
a program worth $20 mln., according to which it obliged to provide
apartments to 3470 families of refugees within 2-3 years. This is an
unexampled action on the part of the Government, especially taking
into consideration the financial problems of the republic.

ARKA – How is the situation with the illegal migration? What does
your Department do in regard with the frightening scale of this
phenomenon?

G. Yeghanyan – The number of illegal migrants is, of course,
approximate. I can firmly say that about 100 thsd. illegally
emigrated Armenians live in Russia. In that country, where there is a
system of special privileges for foreigners, the majority of
Armenians who have immigrated to that country yet are not in line
with immigration laws. The majority of them are refugees from
Azerbaijan, who still have Soviet passports and are actually beyond
the protection of the law.
The Department for Migration and Refugees combats illegal migration
actively. We do it by means of increasing the awareness among
citizens of what problems they can come across in other countries, if
they stay there illegally. We have a hot telephone line and shoot
cognitive films. Besides, at the expense of the Danish Council, our
Department publishes a reference book for those returning to Armenia.
The reference book introduces the social-economic and other
conditions in Armenia in a plain way easy to understand.

ARKA – How will the adoption of law on dual citizenship influence the
speed of migration?

G. Yeghanyan – First of all let’s ask ourselves such a question:
which are our goals we want to achieve by adopting the law on dual
citizenship? Lets’ leave apart the economic aspect, i.e. do we
experience a moral satisfaction with the fact that we have in our
pockets two passports, one of which is Armenian? It’s expected that
the law on dual citizenship will contribute to returning the
Armenians of Diaspora to Armenia. However, I object and state that
it’s enough to adopt a corresponding law simplifying the visa regime
for ethnic Armenians. The goal to stimulate investments by Armenians
abroad also not to be discussed in the context of dual citizenship,
as it’s directly connected with the regulation of the legal field, in
particular, granting Armenians from Diaspora many privileges.
Dual citizenship is an anomaly: as a rule, it make complex the rights
and commitments of citizen to states. Though, the international
experience shows that these issues are settled; but there is also the
international convention standing for the reduction of cases with
dual citizenship. With regard to Armenia, the dual citizenship may
imply obstacles and danger. For example, what will Armenians living
in some other country do being citizens of RA if that country wages
war against Armenia? I do not want my words be definitely against
granting dual citizenship, I just want to say that this process is
very complex. A.H.–0–

Azeri foreign minister hails meeting with Armenian counterpart as “step
forward”

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
31 Aug 04

[Presenter] The fourth meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign
ministers in Prague to settle the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict is a step
forward. Such is an assessment of [Azerbaijani] Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov, who has returned from the talks. But the minister also
said that a number of issues remained thorny topics of discussions. At
the negotiations with the Armenian opposite number [Vardan Oskanyan],
Elmar Mammadyarov also voiced some of his remarks that hinder the
peace process.

[Correspondent over video of Prague, Mammadyarov and Oskanyan] The
latest meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers
was a step forward towards a resolution of the Karabakh problem,
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has told ATV, while summing up
the results of the meeting.

[Elmar Mammadyarov at Baku’s Bina airport] I would say for the first
time that there is progress, we have made a step forward. However,
the matter is difficult.

[Correspondent] We should say that like with previous meetings,
the Prague meeting lacked a specific agenda. The ministers exchanged
opinions on various aspects of the settlement.

[Mammadyarov] We have had a fourth meeting with the Armenian foreign
minister. We had detailed discussions. Now, we should analyse their
outcome to find out how we shall use them.

[Correspondent] As for the foreign ministers’ next meeting, Mammadyarov
said that this would be determined in the near future.

[Mammadyarov] As for the meetings, we shall probably decide this week,
including our contacts with the cochairs [of the OSCE Minsk Group].

[Correspondent] Yet, the two ministers are about to report to the
presidents on the outcome of their meeting. The prospects for peace
talks will become clearer then.

[Mammadyarov] First, we should report to our presidents. I shall
report to my president and Vardan Oskanyan to his president. After
this, we shall contact the cochairs to find out our further steps.

[Correspondent] Asked whether he has delivered official Baku’s protest
to Vardan Oskanyan on the military exercises with the participation
of Armenian troops in Nagornyy Karabakh, Mammadyarov said:

[Mammadyarov] Certainly, I did. Clearly, this was part of the
negotiations. We should say that together with the cochairs, personal
representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office Andrzej Kasprzyk also
attended the Prague meeting.

[Presenter] A short while ago, Mammadyarov told reporters that a next
meeting of the Azerbaijani, Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers
had been discussed at the Prague meeting. The minister said that this
issue would also be discussed at tomorrow’s meeting with the Turkish
ambassador to Azerbaijan. The tripartite meeting is expected to take
place in New York.

RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 30 2004

NAGORNO- KARABAKH REPUBLIC TO MARK 13TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

YEREVAN, August 30 (RIA Novosti’s Hamlet Matevosyan) – On September 2
gala festivities will take place in Stepanakert and other regions of
the republic in connection with the 13th anniversary of the
proclamation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

As RIA Novosti was told in the press service of the NKR’s Foreign
Ministry, the first lesson in the educational establishments of the
republic will be devoted to the Day of Proclamation of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Members of the government, MPs and
representatives of the Army will come to schools and universities on
that day.

Columns of NKR’s Defense Army servicemen will march out in the
morning in Stepanakert’s streets.

Representatives of the republic’s authorities and the public, as well
as the guests from Armenia and Russia will visit the Stepanakert
memorial complex. Famous performers invited from Russia and Armenia
will take part in the concerts.

Nagorny Karabakh is a region on the territory of Azerbaijan with
predominantly Armenian population. A tough territorial dispute over
Nagorny Karabakh between Azerbaijan and Armenia exacerbated in 1998
during the “perestroika” period in the Soviet Union. Mass pogroms
against Armenians took place in Sumgait in Azerbaijan, which resulted
in dozens of people killed, hundreds of wounded, and thousands
becoming refugees. Baku imposed an economic blockade on the
rebellious region. In 1989 full-scale hostilities flared up which,
following the USSR’s disintegration in 1991, turned into a war. On
May 5, 1994, in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzia, Azerbaijan, Nagorny
Karabakh and Armenia, with the mediation efforts of Russia, Kyrgyzia
and the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, signed a protocol on
cessation of hostilities beginning from May 12, 1994.

Meanwhile, as RIA Novosti correspondent reports from the capital of
Azerbaijan, on Monday a sentence was passed in Baku upon chairman of
the Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) Akif Nagi and five members
of this organization who protested against the participation of the
Armenian military in the concluding session of the NATO Conference
“Cooperative Best Effort -2004 in Baku.

The KLO leader was sentenced to five years in prison, four members of
this organization – to four years in prison, vice-chaiman of the KLO
Firuddin Mamedov, invalid of the Karabakh war, – to three years in
general security prison.

The KLO members were charged with blocking traffic in Baku near the
Europa hotel where the NATO conference was held, as well as with the
penetration into the hotel using force against the hotel’s guards, an
attempt to thwart the conference and inflicting damage on the hotel
to the sum of about $340.

During the court hearing all the accused did not plead guilty stating
that the only thing they wanted was to stage a picket in front of the
hotel against the Armenian military’s participation in the NATO
conference in the capital of Azerbaijan.

California Courier Online, September 2, 2004

1 – Commentary
Armenians Win Olympic Medals,
But Not for Their Own Country

By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
**************************************************************************
2 – Turpanjian Family Establishes
$1 Million Scholarship at AUA
3 – Canadian Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian
Receives “Mesrob Mashdots” Medal
4 – Pianist Sergei Babayan to
Perform Sept. 24 at CSUF
5 – APN-WD Host Health,
Wellness Talk on Sept. 23
6 – Aspen Armenians
Help Renovate
School in Armenia
************************************************************************
1 – Commentary
Armenians Win Olympic Medals,
But Not for Their Own Country

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

Armenians around the world have been anxiously watching the Olympic Games
on TV during the past two weeks, hoping to see the country’s flag raised
and its national anthem played at the end of one or more sporting events in
which 18 athletes from Armenia were participating.
Several Armenians did end up winning gold, silver or bronze medals, but
regrettably, not one of them represented Armenia. The ones who won medals
at these games had left Armenia in recent years and were competing for
Russia, Bulgaria, Sweden or Kazakhstan.
Regardless of which passport these athletes held and which flag they
competed under, Armenians still cheered for them proudly and loudly. Their
joy, however, was mixed with disappointment at the failure of athletes
representing Armenia to win a single medal. Such poor results cannot be
simply explained away by the usual excuse that Armenia does not have the
necessary resources to train world-class athletes. Armenia was not any
richer in the past 8 years, and yet it won one gold and one silver medal in
1996, and one bronze in the 2000 Olympics. Armenia’s neighbors are
economically no better off and yet, Georgia managed to win two gold and two
silver medals, and Azerbaijan won one gold and four bronze medals.
After the embarrassing results of the 2004 Olympics, the Armenian
government should completely overhaul its Olympic Committee and put more
competent people in charge. If Armenia lacks the necessary resources to
prepare top-notch athletes, it should seek assistance from the Diaspora.
While Armenia has more urgent needs at the moment than sports, there are
individuals and organizations in the Diaspora that specifically support
athletes and athletic activities. Their contributions, therefore, would not
be diverted away from Armenia’s more critical needs. Furthermore, victories
by Armenian athletes in international competitions would boost the morale
of a destitute population that is yearning for positive news.
Of course, the fastest and the most efficient way of developing top-notch
athletes is to provide incentives for those who have left, to return to
Armenia. They should be given adequate housing, training facilities and
financial support.
With relatively modest sums of money and a dedicated effort, a few Armenian
athletes, by their outstanding performances, could put Armenia on the map
of the world. There is no better way to showcase Armenia than by having the
country’s flag raised and its national anthem played under the watchful
eyes of several billion people! Armenians have less than four years to get
ready for the next Olympics in China.
Kerry Pledges to Fight Denial of Armenian Genocide
Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry issued a statement on the
Armenian Genocide last week that goes far beyond what most other candidates
have promised in the past. In addition to pledging to recognize the
Armenian Genocide, Sen. Kerry stated that he would fight against its
denial.
Most Armenians, after terribly disappointing past experiences, have become
very skeptical about promises made by previous presidential candidates.
However, given Sen. Kerry’s long-standing acquaintance with the Armenian
community in Massachusetts, his support for the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide in the U.S. Senate for the past 20 years, and his unequivocal
statements on this subject, Armenians should be assured that Sen. Kerry is
more worthy of our trust than past presidential candidates. For those who
still remain skeptical, what alternative do they have? Pres. Bush has
repeatedly proven that he cannot be trusted given his broken promises to
recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Here are excerpts from Sen. Kerry’s latest statement issued over the
weekend on the occasion of an Armenian fund-raising festival that was
organized by the ANC in the Boston area:
“I have been honored to represent tens of thousands of Armenian Americans
as a Massachusetts Senator. And I look forward to representing hundreds of
thousands of Armenian Americans as the next President of the United States.
“It has been my privilege, over the past two decades, to work with the
Armenian community on important issues including U.S. recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, strengthening U.S.-Armenia relations and trade, lifting
the devastating blockades of Armenia and working for a fair and lasting
peace in Nagorno Karabagh….
“I want to assure you that, as President, I will continue to fight against
the denial of the Armenian Genocide. My administration will recognize April
24, 2005 as the 90th Anniversary of this atrocity and will work to ensure
that the lessons of this crime against humanity are used to prevent future
genocides. There can be no compromise on the clear moral imperative to end
genocide.”
**************************************************************************
2 – Turpanjian Family Establishes
$1 Million Scholarship at AUA
OAKLAND, CA – The Turpanjian Family Foundation pledged $1 million over 10
years to the American University of Armenia (AUA) in April 2004 to
implement an innovative Big Brother-Big Sister orphan mentorship program,
and to provide educational scholarships to support qualified undergraduate
and graduate Armenian students who are at an economic and social
disadvantage.
On Aug. 13, AUA received its first installment of $100,000 from the
Turpanjian Family Foundation and AUA has begun program implementation.
One of the key components of the Turpanjian Family Foundation Scholarship
Program is to empower its graduates to make long-term contributions to
Armenia’s political, social and economic development. To this end,
scholarships will be awarded to eligible undergraduate and graduate
students in Armenia’s universities, including the AUA, whose major areas of
study are determined to be of critical need and strategic importance for
the development of Armenia. AUA has already sent out public announcements
in
Armenia’s media to recruit eligible students.
Additionally, for the first time in Armenia, AUA will introduce a ‘Big
Brother-Big Sister’ mentorship program for orphans. AUA alumni and
students will be matched with orphans, as ‘big brothers’ or ‘big sisters’,
to establish one-on-one lifelong friendships and mentoring relationships
and to help with their social and intellectual development. This
mutually beneficial connection will not only assist the orphan with
lifelong guidance and counseling, but also instill within AUA alumni and
students the values of helping others less fortunate and the benefits of
participating in community service.
“Supporting a scholarship program in Armenia is a wonderful way to support
the local state institutions of higher education and individual students
who have the potential to attend AUA and make valuable contributions to
Armenian society,” stated AUA President Haroutune Armenian. “The Big
Brother/Big Sister component of this program will also help those who are
at a socio-economic disadvantage to overcome their circumstances and
believe in their potential leadership and entrepreneurial roles in
Armenia’s economy.”
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3 – Canadian Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian
Receives “Mesrob Mashdots” Medal
TORONTO, Canada – Catholicos Aram I, of the Holy Sea of Cilicia, acting
upon the request of Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the Armenian
Prelacy of Canada, bestowed the prestigious “Sourp Mesrob Mashdots” medal
to Canadian Armenian soprano, Isabel Bayrakdarian.
The official awarding ceremony of the “Sourp Mesrob Mashdots” medal took
place on Aug. 15, during the celebrations of Assumption of the Holy Mother
of God at the St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, Toronto by Archbishop
Hagopian.
Born in Beirut, Bayrakdarian began singing Armenian liturgical music in the
church choir at the age of three, and continues to do so today. Her debut
album, “Joyous Light,” was a collection of medieval Armenian sacred music
dating from the 5th century. It reached no.1 in the classical charts across
Canada within days of its release.
Bayrakdarian has received numerous awards throughout her career, most
recently taking home a Juno for her second album, Azulão. She can also be
heard on the Grammy award-winning soundtrack, Lord of the Rings, The Two
Towers, as well as Atom Egoyan’s Ararat.
Bayrakdarian’s upcoming engagements include Suzanna in a new production of
Le nozze di Figaro with Los Angeles Opera, a debut with the San Francisco
Symphony (Mahler’s 2nd Symphony) and a recording project this summer.
During the 2004/2005 she returns to the Metropolitan Opera, to the Lyric
Opera of Chicago twice, and she will make her debut with the Pittsburgh
Opera. She will perform in concerts and recitals in Montreal, Washington,
DC, Toronto, Victoria, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Yerevan, among other
cities.
**************************************************************************
4 – Pianist Sergei Babayan to
Perform Sept. 24 at CSUF
FRESNO – Award winning pianist Sergei Babayan will perform in the opening
recital of the Philip Lorenz Memorial Keyboard Concert Series at Fresno
State. The concert will be held at 8 p.m., on Sept. 24 in the Concert Hall
on the Fresno State campus.
The concert is co-sponsored by the Armenian Studies Program of Fresno
State. Babayan will be performing works by Leighton, J.S. Bach, and Liszt.
One of the most charismatic personalities on today’s concert stage,
Babayan’s vibrantly expressive performances have spirited audience acclaim
worldwide. Ever since his arrival in the United States, on his first trip
outside of the Soviet Union in 1989, his breathtaking virtuosity and a
wide- ranging tonal palette have brought him critical praise and accolades.
He is the winner of four first prizes in international piano competitions
including the 1989 Robert Casadesus Competition in Cleveland (marking the
first time a Soviet artist had competed without government sponsorship),
the Palm Beach Competition (1990), the Hamamatsu Competition in Japan
(1991), and the Scottish Competition (1992).
Babayan was born in Armenia to a musical family and started to play the
piano at the age of three. He began his musical studies at the age of six
under Luisa Markaryan and later with George Saradjev. He continued his
studies at nineteen with Mikhail Pletnev at the Moscow Conservatory and
completed post-graduate work there in 1989 as a student of Professor Vera
Gornostaeva. He also studied privately with Lev Naumov in Moscow.
After making his New York recital debut in 1990 at Alice Tully Hall to
great critical acclaim, Babayan embarked on a busy schedule that has
included solo appearances with The Cleveland Orchestra, the Calgary
Philharmonic Orchestra, the Osaka Symphony, the National Orchestra of
Belgium, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Warsaw Philharmonic, the
Slovenska Filharmonia of Bratislava, the Brno Philharmonic, the Bergamo
Symphony of Italy, the Florida Orchestra, West Virginia Symphony, New World
Symphony, and Orchestre National de Lille.
Ticket reservations for the concert may be made by calling 278-2337.
Relaxed parking will be available in Lots C and V after 7:00 PM the night
of the lecture. For more information on the concert, contact the Armenian
Studies Program at 278-2669.
**************************************************************************
5- APN-WD Host Health,
Wellness Talk on Sept. 23
BURBANK, CA – The Armenian Professionals Network of Western Diocese will
host an evening program about health and wellness with three well-known
Armenian physicians on Sept. 23, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Western
Diocesan complex, 3325 North Glenoaks Blvd., in Burbank.
Speakers will be Harout Mesrobian, M.D., Zaven Arslanian, M.D. and Rafi
Balian, M.D.
The topics are Heart Attack, Preventive Medicine and Management of
Arthritis Pain.
For more information, contact Dr. Harout Yagsezian at 323-783-1773 or Vahe
Ashjian at 818-212-9976.
**************************************************************************
6 – Aspen Armenians
Help Renovate
School in Armenia
ASPEN, CO – The Armenians of Aspen, CO (all 20 of them) recently met at the
home of June and Hovik Abramian for their annual dinner and get together.
This years gathering was also a fund raiser for the Armenian School
Foundation.
Enough pledges were made to renovate one existing classroom in Armenia,
many of which are pitifully neglected and dilapidated. The cost for one
classroom is $2,000.
When completed a dedication plaque will be installed saying that it is
donated by the Armenians of Aspen.
**************************************************************************
********************************************************
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Voice of America
Aug 29 2004

Tens of Thousands Protest Republican Convention

Kerry Sheridan
New York

AP
A group carrying what was described as 1,000 coffins representing
U.S. dead in Iraq marches past Madison Square Garden during the
anti-Bush march

On the eve of the Republican National Convention, tens of thousands
of protesters took to the streets of Manhattan to speak out against
the Bush administration and the war in Iraq. Several dozen bicyclists
were arrested, but a heavy police presence helped keep the march
largely peaceful.

The rally kicked off with a speech by the father of Nick Berg, a
26-year-old American contractor who was beheaded by Iraqi kidnappers
in May. “George Bush must go. He has stolen my son away from me. He
has stolen an election. He has stolen our democracy. He has our
freedom and our security and our peace of mind,” he said.

Many protesters called for American troops to leave Iraq.

AP
A demonstrator flashes the peace sign during a protest organized by
the group United for Peace and Justice in New York

“Iraq for Iraqis! Bring the troops home!”
Some carried coffins draped in American flags, to represent coalition
soldiers killed in Iraq. Others carried a variety of anti-Bush
posters and signs. Some wore their messages on their clothes, like
Zaum Dertaulian, an Armenian-American.

“My shirt says ‘Bush Lie Number Nine: I will acknowledge the 1915
Armenian genocide by the Turks.’ I especially made this because I
feel that America is a land of immigrants, its been stolen from the
Native Americans and since a lot of people here are from other
places, we do need to have a balance of information about every
single indigenous freedom struggle in the world,” he said.

Prior to the demonstration, some New York newspapers had published
reports about the potential for anarchist violence during the march,
which was put together by United for Peace and Justice, an umbrella
group of some 800 organizations.

Protester Jason Kapoor, part of a small group called the No Police
State Coalition, said he read about himself in the paper, but that
his group had no plans to start trouble. “We are one of the so-called
five violent groups that the NYPD intelligence sources said we are
planning violent attacks When all we do is come out here in Union
Square and promote free speech,” he said.

Tens of thousands of police officers filled the streets of New York
City and along the route of the march. Protestor Eva Braiman said it
was clear that police officers came prepared for the worst. “When I
came in this morning from the Bronx, all along 10th Avenue there were
hundreds and hundreds of police with, you know, riot batons and all
kinds of equipment,” she said.

Plenty of demonstrators just came out for a good time, like this
group, called the Radical Cheerleaders.

The marchers passed by Madison Square Garden and then headed back
toward downtown. Sunday’s march was the largest gathering organized
against the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday in
New York, but more demonstrations are planned throughout the week.