Author: Vardapetian Ophelia

Agence France Presse — English
July 17, 2004 Saturday 6:12 AM Eastern Time

Local journalist found dead in Moscow

MOSCOW, July 17

The editor of a Moscow arts magazine has been found stabbed to death,
police said Saturday.

“The body of journalist Pail Peloyan with knife wounds to his chest
and bruises on his face was found on Saturday at 7:00 am (0300 GMT),”
the RIA Novosti news agency quoted a police spokesman as saying.

The body was found lying on the side of the MKAD highway that
encircles the Russian capital, police said.

Peloyan was the editor of Armyanski Pereulok (Armenian Lane), a
Russian-language magazine specializing in literature and arts. It was
not clear whether the killing had any connection with his work.

On July 9, Paul Klebnikov, a US citizen and editor of the Russian
Forbes magazine, was shot to death as he left his office in northern
Moscow.

Following the murder, the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists
called on President Vladimir Putin to move against the “climate of
lawlessness” which has seen 15 journalists killed in Russia during
the past four years.

“Klebnikov is the 15th journalist killed in connection with his work
during your tenure,” CPJ said in a statement.

“No one has been brought to justice in any of the slayings, creating
a sense of impunity that endangers all journalists and undermines
your democracy,” the CPJ said.

The failure to solve any of the journalists’ murders over the past
four years is “a testament to the ongoing lawlessness in Russia and
your failure to reform the country’s weak and politicized criminal
justice system.”

The Russia Journal
July 17 2004

One more newspaper editor killed in Moscow

MOSCOW – Russian and foreign journalists have become an endangered
species in Moscow as two editors have been brutally murdered in as
many weeks in the Russian capital.

The latest victim of the on-going undeclared war against media
representatives is Paila Peloyan – the editor-in-chief of the
Moscow-based Armenian Pereulok, who was found dead on the Moscow
Outer Ring Road (MKAD) between 2 am and 3 am earlier today.

The Armenian Pereulok is a Russian-language journal which is
published and distributed among ethnic Armenian Diaspora living
mainly in the capital and its outlying regions.

The news of the murder jotted Moscow law-enforcement officials into
action as a group of investigators, headed by Alexander Krokhmal,
first deputy prosecutor in the city’s Prosecutor’ s Office, was
dispatched to the murder scene for preliminary investigation.

According to law-enforcement agencies, Peloyan died from a series
injuries, including several knife stabs in the chest, at the 43rd
kilometer on the MKAD in the Southwest Administrative District. The
Cheryomushinsky prosecutor office has opened a criminal case into the
murder. The prosecutors have said they are considering all possible
motives for the murder, including Pelyan’s job as journalist.

Peloyan’s death came only several days after the heinous murder of
another journalist, Paul Klebnikov, the editor of Forbes Russia, on
July 9. Klebnikov, a U.S. citizen of Russian descent, was gunned down
by unidentified assassins as he exited his office in the northern
part of the Russian capital. The assassins and those who ordered the
murder are still at large.

These two senseless killings have once again put the issue of
journalists’ safety in Russia back to the agenda and raised founded
concerns among representatives of the Fourth Estate. This is not
because killing journalists is a rarity in Moscow – and, Russia at
large, but two heinous murders of journalists in less than 10 days in
a city that is not at war, is something unusual, even by Russian
standards.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
07/16/2004
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1. US House Adopts Schiff Amendment on Armenian Genocide
2. Congressional Republican Leadership Attacks Schiff Amendment
3. Hastert, DeLay Blunt Statement on Schiff Amendment
4. $17,000 Raised in San Francisco for Karabagh Resettlement Program
5. 84th ARS Convention Underway
6. AYF Badanegan: bringing the kids together
7. AYF Volunteers Set for Work in Armenia, Little Armenia

1. US House Adopts Schiff Amendment on Armenian Genocide

“None of the funds made available in this Act may be used by the Government of
Turkey to engage in contravention of section 1913 of title 18, United States
Code, relating to lobbying with appropriated moneys, with respect to HRes 193,
Reaffirming support of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide and anticipating the 15th anniversary of the enactment of
the
Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987 (the Proxmire Act) on November
4, 2003.”

Amendment to Foreign Operations Bill prohibiting Turkey
from using US foreign aid to lobby against Genocide Resolution

–Rep. Knollenberg’s Leadership key to maintaining military aid parity for
Armenia and Azerbaijan

WASHINGTON, DCIn a powerful rebuke to the Turkish government’s campaign of
genocide denial, the House of Representatives this evening adopted the Schiff
Amendment, prohibiting the Turkish government from using US foreign assistance
in its multi-million dollar campaign to defeat legislation (HRes 193)
recognizing the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).
The amendment, introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), was passed by a voice
vote and added to the fiscal year 2005 foreign aid bill (HRes 4818). The
foreign aid bill was later passed by a vote of 365 to 41.
In his remarks on the House floor introducing the measure, Rep. Schiff told
his colleagues that, “today I offer a simple amendment that will honor the one
and a half million Armenians who perished in the Armenian Genocide of the 1915
and 1923. I consider this a sacred obligation to ensure that the men, women,
and children who perished in the Armenian Genocide are not lost to history and
that this Congress not fund shameful efforts to deny that the Genocide
occurred.” Commenting after the vote, Rep. Schiff said, “We are another step
closer to silencing those who would deny the murder of 1.5 million Armenians,”
adding that, “This amendment stands true to the memory of the victims.”
“The passage of this amendment is a major victory,” said Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. “It clearly sends a message that the United
States House of Representatives will not tolerate Turkey’s lobbying against
the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.” In his remarks during consideration of
the measure, the New Jersey legislator stressed that “it is time for this body
to stop defending and funding a government that continues to deny its own
history, and refuses to break with the pattern of intolerance established by
past Turkish governments which dealt with minority issues by committing
genocide against Armenians, massacring and driving Greeks from its shores,
restricting the rights of Christians to worship, and denying the existence of
its Kurdish citizens.”
“We want, first and foremost, to thank Congressman Schiff for his tireless
leadership in advancing this amendment, to recognize the strong support of
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, and to note the
pivotal role that Chairman Kolbe played in helping this measure reach the
House
floorwhere, as we all saw this evening, it enjoyed overwhelming bi-partisan
support,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian.
The Genocide Resolution, HRes 193, reaffirms US support for the Genocide
Convention and cites the importance of remembering past crimes against
humanity, including the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodian and Rwandan
genocides, in an effort to stop future atrocities. It faces intense
opposition
from the Turkish government, which has enlisted the backing of the White House
in its efforts to block this measure from being scheduled for a vote of the
full House.
The Genocide Resolution was introduced, in the House, in April, 2003, by
Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and
Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI).
Its
Senate companion measure was introduced, in June, 2003, by Senators John
Ensign
(R-NV) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ). HRes 193 was adopted unanimously by the House
Judiciary Committee last May. Support for the measure has been widespread off
of Capitol Hill as well, with a diverse coalition of over 100 ethnic,
religious, civil and human rights organizations calling for its passage,
including American Values, National Organization of Women, Sons of Italy,
NAACP, Union of Orthodox Rabbis, and the National Council of La Raza.

Rep. Knollenberg Leads Effort on Foreign Aid Issues:
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, who serves as a
senior member of the House panel dealing with foreign aid issues, rallied the
support of his colleagues behind key pro-Armenian provisions in the Foreign
Operations bill. Foremost among these was the successful effort to maintain
parity in US military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan. This February, the
Administration’s budget proposed breaking the parity agreement, struck in 2001
between the White House and the Congress, by allocating $8 million in Foreign
Military Financing (FMF) for Azerbaijan and only $2 million for Armenia. The
foreign aid bill, adopted today by the US House, sets FMF levels for both
nations at $5 million.
“We value the leadership and hard work by Congressman Knollenberg in
maintaining the principle of military aid parity in the face of White House
and
Pentagon pressure to break an agreement that has, for the past three years,
contributed meaningfully to regional stability in the Caucasus,” said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
The House Foreign Operations Subcommittee, which is chaired by Arizona
Republican Jim Kolbe, supported a hard earmark of $65 million in US assistance
to Armenia, and $5 million for Mountainous Karabagh. The Bush
Administration’s
proposal had requested $62 million for Armenia and had not set any specific
funding level for Mountainous Karabagh. The Subcommittee’s decision, made
against the backdrop of decreasing aid levels to the former Soviet republics,
would effectively reduce US assistance to Armenia by $10 million from FY 2004
levels.

2. Congressional Republican Leadership Attacks Schiff Amendment

WASHINGTON, DCIn a front-page statement posted today on the web-page of the
Speaker of the US House, Congressional Republican leaders, who have for the
past eighteen months blocked the progress of legislation recognizing the
Armenian genocide, attacked the adoption, yesterday, of the Schiff
Amendment by
the full US House, reported the Armenian National Committee (ANCA). The
amendment restricts the Turkish government from using US foreign aid
dollars to
finance its campaign to defeat the Genocide Resolution, HRes 193.
The statement issued by House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Majority Leader
Tom Delay (R-TX) and Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) states that, “we are
strongly opposed to the Schiff Amendment to the Foreign Operations
Appropriations bill, and we will insist that conferees drop that provision in
conference. . . Turkey has been a reliable ally of the United States for
decades, and the deep foundation upon which our mutual economic and security
relationship rests should not be disrupted by this amendment.”
Armenian Americans have the opportunity to express their disappointment to
the
authors of this statement by visiting the ANCA website:
“Speaker Hastert and his colleagues in the House leadershiphaving spent the
past year and a half trying to kill the Genocide Resolutionare now trying to
subvert the clear will of an overwhelming bi-partisan majority in support of
this human rights measure,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We
find it deeply offensive that these officials would allow a foreign nation
particularly one that so blatantly disdains the democratic values of the
American peopleto impose its dictates on our Congress.”
Yesterday evening, the US House voted to approve the amendment, introduced by
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). The measure was passed by a voice vote and added to
the fiscal year 2005 foreign aid bill, HRes 4818.
The Genocide Resolution, HRes 193, reaffirms US support for the Genocide
Convention and cites the importance of remembering past crimes against
humanity, including the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodian and Rwandan
genocides, in an effort to stop future atrocities. It faces intense opposition
from the Turkish government, which has enlisted the backing of the White House
in its efforts to press Congressional leaders to block this measure from being
scheduled for a vote of the full House.

3. Hastert, DeLay Blunt Statement on Schiff Amendment

(WASHINGTON DCSpeaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert, House Majority Leader
Tom
DeLay and House Majority Whip Roy Blunt released the following statement
regarding House adoption of the Schiff Amendment to the Foreign Operations
Appropriations bill.
“We are strongly opposed to the Schiff Amendment to the Foreign Operations
Appropriations bill, and we will insist that conferees drop that provision in
conference. We have contacted the Bush Administration, and they have indicated
their strong opposition to the amendment. We have also conveyed our opposition
to Chairman Kolbe and he has assured us that he will insist on it being
dropped
in the conference committee.”
“Turkey has been a reliable ally of the United States for decades, and the
deep foundation upon which our mutual economic and security relationship rests
should not be disrupted by this amendment.”
“On its face, the amendment is meaningless. Current US law already prohibits
foreign governments from using American foreign aid to lobby. But we
understand
the political motivation behind the amendment, and for that reason, we will
insist that it be dropped.”
“Our relationship with Turkey is too important to us to allow it to be in any
way damaged by a poorly crafted and ultimately meaningless amendment.”
“Furthermore, we have no intention of scheduling H Res 193, as reported
out of
the Judiciary Committee in April, during the remainder of this Congress.”

4. $17,000 Raised in San Francisco for Karabagh Resettlement Program

SAN FRANCISCO$17,000 was recently raised for the Karabagh resettlement program
through a series of fundraising events, organized by the Armenian
Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) San Francisco Kristapor Chapter. Fundraisers were held at the
homes of Mr. and Mrs. Sako Shirikian and Mr. and Mrs. Hriar Moroyan and were
followed by a July 9 event at the San Francisco Armenian Center.
After welcoming the audience gathered at the Armenian Center, ARF Kristapor
Chapter representative Hriar Sarkisian spoke about the purpose of the
fundraising drive and how it will assist the work of the newly formed
“Mountainous Karabagh Republic Resettlement Assembly.” “The government of the
Mountainous Karabagh invites Armenians to settle and raise their children
within the borders of their motherland,” he noted.
“Between 1992-2001, the Karabagh government was able to build 4061 homes and
193 buildings, which house 5112 families today. In addition, the country’s
numerous schools cater to 3474 students. The Resettlement Assembly asks all
social, political, and philanthropic organizations to contribute to these
efforts.”
The Armenians of San Francisco, Sarkisian stated, have throughout the years
supported Armenia, Karabagh and the Diaspora both morally and financially and
recently lent assistance to the Armenian communities in Iraq, Javakhk, and
Shahumian.

5. 84th ARS Convention Underway

Delegates from 23 chapters joined invited guests on July 15, for the
opening of
the Armenian Relief Society (ARS), Western Region’s 84th convention that will
be taking place at the Glendale, California Hilton until July 18.
Among those addressing the more than 200 gathered were Prelate Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, Consul General of Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles
Gagik Kirakossian, and ARF Central Committee member Vahe Bozoian.
Honored guests included Glendale City Councilmember Rafi Manoukian, police
chief Randy Adams, Armenia Fund representative Maria Mehrabian, Armond
Agakhani
representing State Assemblymembers Dario Frommer and Fabian Núñez, and
representatives of sister organizations.

6. AYF Badanegan: bringing the kids together

By Sanan Haroun

In the aftermath of the genocide, Karekin Njdeha fedayee and field worker for
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)brought a group of youth together
with the purpose of instilling future generations with the Armenian spirit.
The
idea, which Njdeh successfully implemented in Boston over seventy years ago,
has since spread throughout the United States. Today, the group that was
created through his initiativethe Armenian Youth Federation (AYF)serves youth
under the age of 16 through its Badanegan organization.
The AYF Glendale Badanegan chapterestablished in 1981is just one of the many
chapters that provides young Armenians an environment, in which they can
gather, learn about Hai Tahd, and volunteer for their communities. Members of
Badanegan participate in all sorts of activities that make the Armenian spirit
an important part of their lives. Such activities include singing traditional
songs, assisting political campaigns through phone banking, and participating
in discussions about Armenian issues during weekly meetings.
The AYF Glendale Badanegan is divided into two portions: the Shant chapter,
which accepts youth between the ages of 7-13, and the Simon Zavarian chapter,
which is composed of 14-16 year-olds. Both chapters meet on Friday nights:
Shant from 6:30-8:15pm and Simon Zavarian from 7:30-9:00pm at the Glendale
Armenian Center/Ararat Elderly Day Care Center, 721 S. Glendale Ave.
During a typical one-and-a-half hour-long meeting, members read news from
Armenia, learn new Armenian words and participate in quiz bowls and other fun
games. Additionally, guest speakers are invited to attend meetings and discuss
career opportunities. Speakers in the past have presented information about a
variety of professions, including plumbing, psychology, law, and dentistry.
Each badanee, as members of Badanegan are called, also has an
opportunity to
speak to the chapter about their personal hobbies. Badanees have spoken about
playing instruments like the violin and guitar, roller-blading, water polo,
and
drawing.
Furthermore, meetings sometimes include casual debates amongst the badanees
over issues that affect Armenians in the Diaspora. One such topic is the
importance of Armenian language to the Armenian identity. Divided into two
groups, members eagerly wait for their chance to express their thoughts and
opinions.
In addition to the meetings, AYF Glendale Badanegan members plan and
participate in social and athletic activities. Sleep-overs, movie nights, pool
parties, trips to amusement parks, hikes through waterfalls, visits to the
beach, bowling and ice skating are just a few examples of the activities that
badanees enjoy. These excursions provide endless memories and create strong
friendships that last a lifetime.
Some of the badanees’ more elaborate projects include trips to AYF Camp Big
Pines and Malibu Beach, where members camped out on the sand and woke up by
the
ocean.
The Glendale Badanegan also has a long tradition of presenting plays about
heroic Armenian figures and Armenian issues in the Diaspora. Some of the plays
presented include “Njdeh,” “Menk Hayers,” “Yert Arants Tartsi,” “Siamanto,”
and
“Black and White.” In both 1991 and 2001, song tours were organized in
Glenddale to mark Armenian Independence Day. Badanees also distribute
Christmas
cards during each December.
The Glendale chapter is continually busy in planning events that are both fun
and educational. The idea of bringing together a few Armenian kids in 1933 has
developed into a large organization dedicated to involving youth in the
Armenian Cause. Today, the growing Glendale Shant and Zavarian chapters have
over 70 members.
The AYF Badanegan provides leadership training and education for future
generations. Countless young Armenians attribute their involvement in social
and political causes to their experiences as AYF badanees. The badanees who
enjoy their social and educational experiences become life-long community
activists.

Sanan is an executive member of the Glendale AYF Badanegan Zavarian Chapter

7. AYF Volunteers Set for Work in Armenia, Little Armenia

AYF Youth Corps Ready to Get to Work in Artsakh

YEREVANThe participants of this summer’s AYF Youth Corps program arrived in
Armenia on Thursday, to spend most of their summer in Stepanakert, the capitol
city of Mountainous Karabagh Republic (Artsakh), working to rebuild the ARS
Soseh kindergarten and the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Center there. Though 2004
marks the 10th anniversary of the AYF Youth Corps program, it is also the
third
year the program targets the reconstruction of the kindergarten and Parpeligic
center.
This year’s program participants from throughout CaliforniaGlendale, the
South
Bay, and the West San Fernando Valley, will have the opportunity to meet with
government officials, local ARF representatives, and AYF members, and will
spend weekends sightseeing in Armenia and Artsakh.
The AYF Youth Corps program, founded after the 1994 Karabagh cease-fire, has
sent over 100 Armenian youth to Artsakh and Armenia to assist in rebuilding
efforts of various Armenian structures such as schools, centers, churches, and
youth camps damaged during the war.

Back to the Streets of Little Armenia in September

LOS ANGELESThe planning and organization of the Second Annual Little Armenia
Clean Up has begun, and efforts to beautify the portion of Hollywood named
after Armenia will take place on September 25.
The clean up is co-sponsored by Council Member Eric Garcetti and the Armenian
Youth Federation (AYF).
After the 8:30 AM opening on clean up day, which will include remarks by
Council Member Garcetti, volunteers will hit the streets and sidewalks of
Hollywood work to remove litter and unwanted weeds.
The clean up effort, a project of the AYF Little Armenia Beautification
Program, will include replacing the “Welcome to Little Armenia” banners on
various major intersections of Little Armenia, with new ones.
“It is an honor to the Armenian American community to have an area of the
City
Los Angeles named after our homeland,” said Vicken Sosikian, Chairman of the
AYF Western Region. “Since October of 2000 we have enjoyed this honor; we
therefore not only need to give back to Little Armenia and its residents, but
also to the city of Los Angeles.”
Turnout for the 2003 Little Armenia Clean Up was tremendous; mostly AYF
youth,
and some older volunteers scoured city streets and placed the welcome banners
that now mark Little Armenia.
The AYFa volunteer youth organization, seeks the support of the Armenian
community to make this outreach event a success.
Interested volunteers for the clean up, or those who want to contribute to
the
effort in anyway, should email the AYF at: [email protected].

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American Progress
July 16 2004

There They Go Again

by Shira Saperstein

It’s that time of year again. Every spring the White House gives its
annual sop to the right-wing by withholding funds from the U.N.
Population Fund (UNFPA). When it comes to the UNFPA, a long-time
target of anti-family planning zealots, the administration for the
third year in a row has chosen ideology and politics over research
and public health.

Last January, Congress authorized and appropriated $34 million for
the UNFPA, a multilateral agency that works with governments and NGOs
in over 140 countries. The agency helps women avoid unwanted
pregnancies, give birth safely, and protect themselves from violence
and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.

One of those countries is China, where UNFPA is implementing a pilot
project in 32 counties designed to shift the country away from its
reliance on abortion and state control to a policy of high quality
family planning and individual reproductive choice. Results have been
encouraging. In those counties, the ratio of abortions to live births
declined by 30 percent. Furthermore, according to the State
Department’s 2004 Human Rights Report, 800 other Chinese counties are
now trying to replicate the UNFPA model, discarding their targets and
quota systems in favor of quality of care and informed choice.

In 2002, the Bush administration withdrew all funding for the UNFPA,
claiming that its work in China violated the Kemp-Kasten amendment,
which prohibits foreign aid funding for any organization that
“supports or participates in the management of a program of coercive
abortion or involuntary sterilization.” In 2003, the administration
again refused to release any funds, and today, it did so again.

The interpretation flies in the face of four, separate investigations
of the UNFPA’s program in China:

In 2003 a team of nine religious and faith-based organization leaders
and ethicists, representing Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant
groups, conducted a mission to China. They concluded that the UNFPA
is not involved in any forced abortion or involuntary sterilization
and is a catalyst for positive change.
In 2002, the administration sent its own hand-picked Blue Ribbon
Panel to investigate allegations of UNFPA involvement in coercive
abortion in China. The team found “no evidence that UNFPA has
knowingly supported or participated in the management of a program of
coercive abortion” and recommended that the “$34 million which has
already been appropriated be released to UNFPA.”
Also in 2002, the United Kingdom sent an all-party group of three
Parliamentarians who determined that the UNFPA in China was a “force
for good.”
In 2001 the United Nations sent a high-level delegation to China that
came back with praise for the UNFPA and a recommendation for
continued support.
The UNFPA was founded in 1969, with strong leadership and support
from the United States. It is funded by voluntary contributions from
member states and depends on the global community to support its
wide-range of life-saving programs. Today, more than 130 countries
make contributions; leading donors include the Netherlands, Japan,
Norway, the United Kingdom and Sweden. Even smaller countries like
Afghanistan, Armenia and Somalia value the role of UNFPA enough to
make modest contributions. But not the United States, which once
again has isolated itself from its closest allies and the rest of the
world.

The $34 million that the president refuses to release could prevent
two million unwanted pregnancies, 800,000 induced abortions, 4,700
maternal and 77,000 infant and child deaths. These funds would
strengthen current UNFPA programs like those to reduce maternal
mortality in Afghanistan, improve adolescent health in Vietnam, and
send desperately needed medical supplies to displaced Sudanese
refugees.

This week, Congress and the White House have been nattering on about
the dangers of gay marriage to children and families in America.
Meanwhile, as a result of its decision to withhold funding for the
UNFPA, the White House will leave millions of women around the world
without access to the services they need to protect their children
and families. The administration’s stubborn refusal to consider the
evidence, work with international institutions, and see beyond its
own political blinders will cost thousands of innocent lives. So much
for compassionate conservatism.

Shira Saperstein is a visiting fellow at the Center for American
Progress.

Associated Press Worldstream
July 16, 2004 Friday 1:53 PM Eastern Time

Bush administration opposes House measure on Turkey

by HARRY DUNPHY; Associated Press Writer

President George W. Bush’s administration opposes a measure passed by
the House of Representatives forbidding Turkey to use U.S. aid to
lobby against a separate measure that would officially recognize the
Armenian genocide, a State Department spokesman said Friday.

“The House has passed it, the Senate has not and the administration
is opposed to it,” Richard Boucher said.

The House used a voice vote Thursday to approve language by
Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California on Turkey that was added to
a $19.4 billion foreign aid bill the House approved.

Tens of thousands of Armenians live in Schiff’s district, which
includes Pasadena and other communities east of Los Angeles.

Armenians accuse Turks of a genocide of up to 1.5 million Armenians
between 1915 and 1923. Turks claim the number of deaths is inflated
and say the victims were killed in civil unrest.

“We are another step closer to silencing those who would deny the
murder of 1.5 million Armenians,” Schiff said after the vote. “This
amendment stands true to the memory of the victims.”

House Speaker Dennis Hastert and other House Republican leaders said
in a statement that they oppose the Schiff amendment and “will insist
that conferees drop that provision” should the measure pass the
Senate.

“Turkey has been a reliable ally of the United States for decades,
and the deep foundation upon which our mutual economic and security
relationship rests should not be disrupted by this amendment.”

They said the amendment seems meaningless because by law, foreign
governments are barred from using U.S. aid to lobby.

“But we understand the political motivation behind the amendment and
for that reason we will insist that it be dropped.”

The leaders also said they “have no intention” of scheduling the
Armenian genocide resolution for a vote for the rest of the year.

On a related matter, Boucher said Turkey had withdrawn its candidacy
to chair the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe in
2007 “due to competing obligations by high-level officials.

“They felt they would be unable to devote the appropriate attention
to the position. So we respect that decision.”

Last month Armenian Foreign Minister Vadan Oskanian said his country
would veto Turkey’s chairmanship because it thinks the role can only
be filled by a nation that has diplomatic relations with all the
OSCE’s states.

Armenia and Turkey do not have diplomatic relations, although the
Turks recently have expressed a willingness to improve the situation
between the two countries.

Besides differing over genocide, the two countries also are at odds
over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region within Azerbaijan that has been under
ethnic Armenian control since a war that ended in 1994 without a
political settlement.

Turkey, which shares close ethnic ties with Azerbaijan and supported
that nation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, has maintained and
economic blockage of Armenia, hobbling development in the landlocked
former Soviet republic.

Armenian, Russian premiers keen to boost cooperation in all spheres

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
13 Jul 04

Presenter Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov during the meeting
with his Armenian counterpart Andranik Markaryan announced that Russia
has the desire and opportunities to expand military-technical
cooperation with Armenia and is going to do this by involving Russian
enterprises in the modernization of the military equipment and weapons
that the Armenian army possesses. Fradkov and Markaryan also talked
about trade and economic relations. They were not satisfied with the
annual 200m-dollar commodity turnover.

Correspondent Tereza Kasyan from Moscow by phone Our relations are
developing and dialogue is continually being filled with new
substance, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov announced during the
Armenian-Russian intergovernmental talks. Before this meeting Andranik
Markaryan and Mikhail Fradkov had discussed the current level of
Armenian-Russian economic relations which, according to both prime
ministers, are not satisfying. Trade turnover between Armenia and
Russia has grown by 30 per cent in comparison with last year, which is
more than 10,000 dollars. This is not the limit by far, the sides
announced, and agreed to cooperate in all possible spheres, energy,
high technologies, military-technical. Armenia and Russia have an
economic cooperation potential which is not being used entirely. We
intend to use all opportunities to develop our countries, the Armenian
prime minister said.

Tomorrow Andranik Markaryan will meet Speaker of the Federation
Council Sergey Mironov.

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
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PRESS RELEASE
July 9, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA CONSULTS WITH SENIOR KERRY-EDWARDS CAMPAIGN LEADERS DURING
CONFERENCE CALLS ON ETHNIC AMERICAN OUTREACH

WASHINGTON, DC — Community activists from the Armenian National
Committee of America’s (ANCA) national headquarters, regional
offices, and local chapters participated this week in conference
calls organized by the Kerry-Edwards campaign to consult with
ethnic leaders nationwide.

Representatives from ethnic groups, including the Irish, Italian,
Serbian, Greek, German, Polish, Albanian, Portuguese and Ukrainian
communities, spoke, in two separate July 8th conference calls, with
Kerry/Edwards National Campaign Chairwoman, former New Hampshire
Governor Jeanne Shaheen, and National Campaign Co-Chairman, Los
Angeles City Councilman Antonio Villaragosa. ANCA representatives,
as well as “Armenians for Kerry-Edwards” activists praised the
campaign’s energetic outreach to engage ethnic communities.

Governor Shaheen and Councilman Villaragosa cited the key role that
ethnic communities will play in the upcoming elections, as both the
Democratic and Republican campaigns vie to win support in the more
than fifteen hotly contested, highly ethnic “battleground” states,
which will play the determining factor in the Presidential race
this November. “The one thing we understand in this campaign is
that, when taken together, they [ethnic groups] are a big slice of
the American electorate . . . Our ability to communicate with these
communities will take us far in November,” explained Councilman
Villaragosa. The campaign leaders also provided their insights
into Sen. Kerry’s announcement this week of Senator John Edwards as
his Vice-Presidential running-mate.

“It was very energizing to participate in the conference call – and
have the opportunity to interact and exchange views – with the
senior leaders of the Kerry/Edwards campaign,” said Alina Azizian,
who is active with the San Francisco/Bay Area “Armenians For
Kerry/Edwards” team. “Sen. Edwards, having been brought up as the
son of a textile worker, is an icon of the American Dream which so
many Armenians and other ethnic Americans can relate to.”

The conference call is part of a multi-faceted, nationwide Kerry-
Edwards campaign effort to reach out to ethnic community
organizations, energize ethnic voters, and ensure that the voice of
America’s diverse communities are heard at the highest levels of
the campaign. Campaign Ethnic Outreach Coordinator George Kivork,
himself of Armenian descent, has been a key figure in this effort,
developing a powerful coalition of ethnic community supporters for
the Kerry-Edwards ticket.

A1 Plus | 14:08:04 | 29-06-2004 | Official |

ARMENIANS IN ISTANBUL

On June 28 morning Turkey’s Industry and Trade Minister Ali Joshqan met the
Armenian delegation, which arrived in Istanbul to partake in NATO Summit.
Armenian delegation head, FM Vardan Oskanyan met Turkey’s Vice Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gule in Istanbul’ Congress and
Exhibition Center where NATO Summit passes.

Issues regarding bilateral relations, situation in the region and the
present process of Karabakhi conflict settlement were on the agenda.

Stressing importance of such meeting both parts agreed upon continuing the
direct dialogue.

On June 28 evening Armenian, Turkish and Azerbaijani Foreign Affairs
Ministers met. They discussed the situation in Southern Caucasus, exchanged
thoughts on developments in the region, like expansion of European Union,
enrollment of Caucasus states in EU “New Neighborhood” and the new
approaches of NATO to Caucasus.

Ministers also referred to Karabakhi conflict settlement, especially in the
light of the meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs on June 21 in
Prague.

FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE, Oslo, Norway

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one’s belief or religion
The right to join together and express one’s belief

================================================
Monday 28 June 2004
TURKMENISTAN: POLICE CONTROL OF BELIEVERS SET TO CONTINUE

In an apparent sign that they intend to keep tight control of religious
communities, officers of the police sixth department, which fights
organised crime and terrorism, summoned at least four religious leaders in
early June. Officers demanded full information about current and planned
activities, and names and addresses of all members, Forum 18 News Service
has learnt. Intermittent raids on religious communities continue as
unregistered religious activity remains illegal. One Protestant told Forum
18 of serious threats in repeated raids on a church in Dashoguz in May. A
Jehovah’s Witness elder said five local officials confiscated two Bibles in
a 10 June raid on a private home, adding that it is too early for them to
apply for registration. “Can we apply when some of our lads are still
in prison? We won’t lodge an application until our community can function
freely.” Only four minority communities – the Adventists, the
Baha’is, the Baptists and the Hare Krishnas – have gained
registration since March.

TURKMENISTAN: POLICE CONTROL OF BELIEVERS SET TO CONTINUE

By Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service

Despite government claims that it has eased restrictions on religious
practice and despite the early release in mid-June of six of the country’s
nine religious prisoners (see F18News 25 June 2004
), religious leaders
report continuing police harassment of their communities. Although fines
are not known to have been levied on believers since April, Forum 18 News
Service has learnt that intermittent raids, threats and pressure to convert
from minority faiths continue. Several religious leaders have told Forum 18
they have been summoned by officers of the sixth department of the police,
which tracks organised crime and terrorism, and asked for full information
on all their community’s activities and plans. Officers are also demanding
full lists of members and their addresses, as well as the names of people
who live in the same buildings as their members. Unregistered religious
activity remains illegal.

Of the four religious leaders known to Forum 18 to have been summoned to
the sixth department in the capital Ashgabad in early June, some refused to
go while others went but refused to write a statement about their
activities or to present the list of members the police were demanding. One
of those summoned told Forum 18 that the officers’ demands indicated that
the police intend to continue keeping tight control over religious
activity, especially for communities that gain official registration.

The most serious harassment came in May, when secret police and police
officers threatened members of a Protestant church in the town of Dashoguz
[Dashhowuz] in north-eastern Turkmenistan. “Police and secret police
officers took the believers and threatened them,” one Protestant, who
asked not to be identified and requested that the denomination likewise not
be identified, told Forum 18. “This happened several times in
May.” The Protestant also reported harassment of the church in other
towns, including in the southern town of Tedjen. “Elsewhere the
situation is fairly normal.”

The Jehovah’s Witnesses report that the last time any of their members were
sacked from work because of their faith was in March. In April one
Jehovah’s Witness was fined a large sum in Turkmenabad (formerly Charjou).
But an elder in Ashgabad, who preferred not to be identified, told Forum 18
on 25 June that their communities still cannot meet together in large
numbers without being harassed and such harassment has continued since
April.

Police visited one Jehovah’s Witness’ home on 8 June, while on 10 June five
officials of the hyakimlik (local administration) raided the Ashgabad home
of a female Jehovah’s Witness. “They treated her like a
criminal,” the elder complained. “They also confiscated two
Bibles.”

The Jehovah’s Witness elder says the community cannot apply for
registration while such harassment continues. “Can we apply when some
of our lads are still in prison? We won’t lodge an application until our
community can function freely,” the elder told Forum 18. “What is
registration anyway?”

Although the government eased registration restrictions, at least in
theory, back in March the registration process is going very slowly. While
Ashgabad’s Baha’i and Adventist communities gained registration in early
June, the first non-Sunni Muslim and non-Russian Orthodox communities to
get registration since 1997 (see F18News 3 June 2004
), only weeks later
– at the end of June – did two more of the other groups that
have applied for registration receive it.

Pastor Vasily Korobov told Forum 18 on 25 June that his Baptist Church had
received its registration certificate earlier that day, though he says he
has to return this week to the Adalat (Fairness or Justice) Ministry to
“correct and complete” the application. Forum 18 has also heard
reports that about the same time the Hare Krishna community received
registration.

The Adalat Ministry has consistently refused to give Forum 18 any
information about the registration process since Shirin Akhmedova was moved
from her post in the department that registers religious organisations
several months ago. Contacted by Forum 18 in June, Bibi Tagieva and
Svetlana Maltseva, two officials from the same department, have either put
down the phone or have insisted that while information on the registration
process is “not a state secret” and that “we’re not afraid
to give information”, all requests have to be channelled through the
Foreign Ministry.

However, Maltseva did confirm to Forum 18 on 16 June that the Armenian
Apostolic Church had not applied to register any communities, before
refusing to discuss individual faiths any further. She denied suggestions
that no minority religious communities will be allowed to register in towns
outside Ashgabad.

Fr Ioann Kopach, Russian Orthodox dean of Ashgabad, told Forum 18 on 16
June that neither the Adalat Ministry nor the government’s Gengeshi
(Council) for Religious Affairs has yet told his Church whether it will
have to re-register its 12 parishes as demanded by last October’s revised
religion law.

Catholic priest Fr Tomasz, one of two foreign priests based in Ashgabad who
have diplomatic immunity as Vatican diplomats, told Forum 18 the Catholic
Church is waiting for a letter from the Vatican and other documents before
submitting its registration application. “Hopefully we will soon have
registration,” he told Forum 18 on 25 June. He said the Church would
apply for registration to cover the whole country. “We have a few
Catholics in other parts of Turkmenistan, but no organised communities. We
hope to organise parishes in other towns once we have registration.”

Armenia’s ambassador to Turkmenistan, Aram Grigoryan, confirmed to Forum 18
from Ashgabad on 16 June that there had been no progress in regaining the
historical Armenian Apostolic church in Turkmenbashi. “We’re still
waiting,” declared the ambassador, who has long been spearheading
attempts to get back the church and reopen it for worship.

Pastor Viktor Makrousov of Ashgabad’s Pentecostal Church told Forum 18 he
has not yet lodged his community’s registration application, though he has
been preparing the documents.

A member of another church, who preferred not to be identified, told Forum
18 his community was optimistic it would soon get registration and be able
to restart public worship. The church lodged its registration application
some weeks ago. Asked why registration was taking so long Forum 18 was
told: “A woman doesn’t give birth immediately but carries her child
for nine months.”

It remains unclear whether Christian Churches will try again to register a
Bible Society. Attempts in the late 1990s were unsuccessful. Officials of
the International Religious Liberty Association outside Turkmenistan told
Forum 18 it is “too early” to think of forming a branch of the
association there, though they believe this is desirable as soon as it is
practicable.

Forum 18 has been unable to find out if any Muslim communities plan to seek
registration again for the medrassahs (Islamic colleges) closed down by the
authorities in the 1990s. Sources have told Forum 18 a few private
medrassahs function quietly, led by Muslims who believe current Islamic
education is inadequate. A respected Turkish-run set of private schools in
Turkmenistan have been banned from teaching Islam, although this is a
routine part of their curriculum in Turkey and other Central Asian
states.

Fr Kopach told Forum 18 that the Russian Orthodox Church does not have
Sunday schools for children, though he glossed over whether this was
because of state restrictions or lack of resources on the Church’s part.

Pastor Korobov told Forum 18 that the Baptist Church’s registration covered
the whole of Turkmenistan. The Baptists have congregations in Turkmenbashi
(formerly Krasnovodsk), Balkanabad (formerly Nebit-Dag) and Mary as well as
Ashgabad. All four of its churches were closed after the communities lost
registration in 1997. The Ashgabad church was confiscated, while the other
three were sealed by the authorities. “It’s relatively simple to
reopen the three churches in other towns, but here in Ashgabad it will be
more complicated,” Pastor Korobov told Forum 18. “Other people
are living there now.” He said they would now start to work to recover
the confiscated Ashgabad church.

After 1997, when all non-Sunni Muslim and non-Russian Orthodox communities
lost registration, the authorities destroyed the Adventist church in
Ashgabad, two Hare Krishna temples in Mary region, Ashgabad’s Baha’i temple
and several mosques. Moscow-based researcher Nikolai Mitrokhin told Forum18
the authorities also destroyed a dilapidated Orthodox church in Mary in
1997 (the priest was reportedly unconcerned as the town’s other church was
large enough to accommodate worshippers even at Easter), while Moscow
journalist Arkady Dubnov told Forum 18 an unused Russian Orthodox chapel
dating back to 1913 in the southern border town of Kushka was demolished
some time between 1999 and 2003 as part of government schemes to destroy
old Russian monuments.

However, rebuilding or getting back former places of worship may be
difficult. Veronika Annaklycheva, deputy hyakim (head of administration) of
the Kopetdag district of Ashgabad where the Adventist church was bulldozed
in November 1999 remained unrepentant. “Schools and flats were
destroyed to make way for reconstruction and a road,” she told Forum
18 from her office in Ashgabad on 9 June. She seemed uninterested that the
Adventist community had regained its registration. “I don’t know
anything about that – I haven’t seen the certificate.” She
brushed off suggestions that the Adventist community should be given
compensation for the destruction of their place of worship to help them
rebuild it. “That’s not a question for me.”

Just as the Baptists’ church in Ashgabad was seized, so was the city’s
Pentecostal church. “We want it back – it’s my private property,”
Pastor Makrousov told Forum 18. “It would be difficult to function as
a community without somewhere to meet for worship.”

One Protestant pastor, who preferred not to be identified, remained highly
suspicious over registration. “Honestly, it would be wrong to dance
for joy at getting registration as the law and regulations are so
restrictive,” he told Forum 18. “Registration means being obliged
to abide by all the regulations, asking for permission to hold services,
invite foreigners, conduct educate or import literature. Maybe it’s worse
than not having registration.” The pastor pointed out that conditions
for registered communities are now much harsher than before harsh
registration restrictions were adopted in 1996. “At least there was
some freedom back then.”

A representative of the Council of Churches of Evangelical
Christians/Baptists, which rejects state registration on principle and has
several congregations in different towns of the country, told Forum 18 that
the police are still watching their activity. “They are showing they
still have teeth. The law may have changed but what has changed on the
ground?” The congregations regularly have to change the places they
hold services to avoid police raids. The representative pointed out that
until unregistered religious activity ceases to be illegal their
congregations will not be free to function openly.

The representative cited a police summons to the local court to Valentina
Kalataevskaya in Turkmenbashi on 25 May. Kalataevskaya, whose husband
Vyacheslav was deported from Turkmenistan into neighbouring Kazakhstan in
June 2001 by the secret police, was not at home when the police called.
Despite threats that if she failed to go the police would arrive in force
and seize her, she refused to attend on the basis of a verbal summons.

The government appears to have maintained the ban on registering
specifically Shia Muslim mosques. Reportedly the only Shia place of worship
that functions legally is a prayer room attached to a registered Sunni
mosque in Ashgabad (which, like most schools and factories and some places
of worship, has a “Ruhnama room” honouring the president’s book
that is forcibly imposed on the country). The Iranian embassy in Ashgabad
also runs its own Shia mosque under diplomatic auspices, though this is
apparently inaccessible for local citizens. Elsewhere such Shia mosques
have been denied registration.

Others whose worship remains illegal include the Lutherans and several
other Protestant denominations, Jews, New Apostolic believers and Molokans
(an early Russian Protestant group with communities in Ashgabad and
Bairam-Ali, a small town near Mary).

For more background see Forum 18’s latest religious freedom survey at

A printer-friendly map of Turkmenistan is available at
tml?Parent=asia&Rootmap=turkme
(END)

© Forum 18 News Service. All rights reserved.

You may reproduce or quote this article provided that credit is given to
F18News

Past and current Forum 18 information can be found at

UNITED ARMENIAN FUND
1101 N. Pacific Avenue # 301
Glendale, CA 91202
Tel: 818.241.8900
Fax: 818.241.6900

For Immediate Release
28 June 2004
Contact: 818.241.8900

UAF’s 129th Airlift Delivers $1 Million of Aid to Armenia

Glendale, CA – The United Armenian Fund’s 129th airlift arrived in Yerevan
on June 26, delivering $1 million of humanitarian assistance.

The UAF itself collected $262,000 of medicines and medical supplies for this
flight, most of which were donated by AmeriCares ($138,000) and the Catholic
Medical Mission Board ($123,000).

Other organizations which contributed goods for this airlift were: Armenian
Eyecare Project ($351,000); Armenian Missionary Association of America
($78,000); Dr. Mary Alani/Focus Armenia ($62,000); Medical Outreach for
Armenians ($53,000); Foundation Semra ($30,000); Armenian American Medical
Association of California and Knights of Vartan – Sevan Tahlij ($24,000);
Armenian Canadian Medical Association ($22,000); and Nork Marash Medical
Center ($14,000).

Also contributing to this airlift were: Dr. Robert Garabedian of California
($12,000); Arabkir United Children’s Charity Foundation ($11,000); Harut
Chantikian of New Jersey ($11,000); E. Cherian/George Washington University
($11,000); and Dr. Elizabeth Weller of Pennsylvania ($10,000).

Since its inception in 1989, the UAF has sent $385 million of humanitarian
assistance to Armenia on board 129 airlifts and 1,064 sea containers.

The UAF is the collective effort of the Armenian Assembly of America, the
Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian Missionary Association of
America, the Armenian Relief Society, the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America, the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America and the
Lincy Foundation.

For more information, contact the UAF office at 1101 North Pacific Avenue,
Suite 301, Glendale, CA 91202 or call (818) 241-8900.