Author: Vardapetian Ophelia

The Jakarta Post
June 24, 2004

Utut’s hopes crumble at Tripoli chess meet
Musthofid, Jakarta

Utut Adianto, who had entered the world chess championship in Tripoli
with high hopes, crashed out in the second round on Tuesday.

The Indonesian grand master’s expectation of moving ahead in the
championship crumbled after he suffered a crushing loss to GM Vladimir
Akopian of Armenia.

After holding Akopian in the first game on Monday, Utut failed to
withstand the blistering attack by the 1999 championship runner-up in
the second game on Tuesday.

The Tripoli chess is only the latest championship in which Utut has
been ejected in the second round. He has had four major appearances
since 1997.

He even exited during the opening stage in 1999 in Las Vegas, where
Akopian arrived on the scene with a bang by getting through to the
final before being stopped by eventual champion Alexander Khalifman of
Russia.

The latest defeat has left Utut upset about the weakness of the
challenge he posed.

“Playing chess at the world level is obviously not an easy task,” Utut
reported by e-mail. He said he had learned a lot from his game against
Akopian.

Utut, who played the black pieces, knew that he was doomed to fail
immediately after he made a long castling on the 14th move. He
surrendered in 43 moves.

“A mistaken choice on the 14th move sunk me. What had looked a like a
normal move turned out to be a disaster.

“And Akopian, the 1999 finalist, punished me with remarkable accuracy
and machine-like precision. I should have played 14…Na5, and then we
might have built a balanced position.

“Well, Akopian has taught me a valuable lesson — that I have yet to
master a thorough, world-class opening repertoire,” Utut said.

Utut, who is 38, had earlier been confident after having spent ten
days training with Tibor Karolyi, a renowned chess trainer from
Hungary, as part of his preparations for the world championships.

But, instead of making it to the semifinals as he had hoped, he will
now be traveling home after only the second round. He seemed resigned,
however. “It seems that given my class, I have got as far as I can
go. I probably only have a 3,000 cc engine, while a 4,000 cc engine is
needed to play at the higher level.”

REMEMBERING OUR FREEDOM FIGHTERS AND OUR SAINT

11 June, 2004 – (Gibrahayer) – Last weekend, the Armenian community of
Cyprus, in two separate events remembered the people, who with their
presence in the history of our nation and through their presence
in our lives, changed the course of the history of our nation and
changed our perceptions on life.

The Dashnakstoutiun family remembered the “Davids” of our nation who
under impossible and uneven circumstances dreamed of freedom and a
better future for our nation. In a commemorative gathering at AYMA
on June 5, 2004 more than 200 community members heard Archbishop
Hergelian and speaker of the day Harout Tahmazian pointing out the
importance of the days of May 28, 1918 which started the process of
our nation’s, state building.

The following day on Sunday June 6, around 120 community members
gathered at Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church for the 40 day memorial of
Archbishop Zareh Aznavourian who served in Cyprus from 1977-1983.

While we are in constant search to try to find solutions to the
everyday challenges of our community, the spirit of the freedom
fighters of 1918, will always remain a source of inspiration to strive
for better things for our community through the every day decisions
that we all take, remembering that the super men of May were people,
like each and every one of us.

Finally, while we seek spiritual guidance to accomplish what we feel
is important, we will always remember our own Saint, Archbishop Zareh
Aznavourian, who for most of us was undoubtedly a divine being on
earth, through whom we learned to love better, and to forgive. But our
Saint’s presence in our lives was much more than that. He helped us
filter our life to see and decide what is important, and what is not,
what is real and what is not.

For that collective strength that our Saints provide us with, we are
eternally grateful. The least we can do is remember them by mapping
aspects of their lives on to ours.

Images from both events can be viewed at
:

ARMENIANS KILL AZERI OFFICER
Azrebaijani TV report that Armenians kill Azeri officer and wound soldier

ANS TV report , Baku 7 Jun 04 – The chief of a battalion, Capt Zaur
Ismayilov, 28, became a martyr today when Armenians fired from their
positions in the village of Horadiz at the Azerbaijani positions in
the village of Cocuq Marcanli, near Iranian border in southwestern
Azerbaijan at 5:00 a.m. local time.

The 19-year-old soldier Bagirov Ramil Vagifoglu was wounded. This
was confirmed by the head of the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry’s
press service, Ramiz Malikov. It was impossible to take the body of
the officer away until retaliatory fire forced the Armenians to stop,
ANS TV’s Karabakh bureau reports, quoting local residents. The wounded
soldier was rushed to a military hospital. According to another report
from the Defence Ministry, units of the Armenian armed forces fired
from a point 1.5 kilometres northeast of Berkaber village [in Armenia]
in Idzhevan District at the Azerbaijani positions in the village of
Qizil Hacili in Qazax District a few hours before midnight for about
twenty minutes on 6 June.

>>From the same point and from a point located 1.4 kilometres southeast
of the occupied village of Xeyrimli in Qazax District, the Armenians
subjected the village of Mazam in Qazax District to fire from assault
rifles and large-calibre machine guns in the early hours of June
7. The enemy was forced to stop by retaliatory fire in both cases.

CYPRUS PREPARES FOR EURO PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS

Nicosia – Friday June 11 (Gibrahayer) Cyprus prepares for its first
European Parliament elections this Sunday, in which nearly sixty
candidates will be contesting the six Cyprus seats.

The fiercely contested pre-election campaign that ends tonight,
failed to address the political, economic and social issues facing the
European Union and perhaps understandably concentrated on the solution
of the Cyprus problem and the position of the candidates. Most of the
pre-election campaign evolved around the resurrection or not of the
Anan Plan, the stance of the Government towards the economic assistance
towards the Turkish Cypriots, prospects of solution in the EU as well
as the feud in the Democratic Rally Party in which a great friend
of the Armenian people Eleni Theocharous ( )
is running.

The Armenian community of Cyprus was also targeted by candidates who
paid frequent visits to organisations seeking our vote. The Socialist
EDEK Party ( ) circulated a flyer in Armenian, while Arto
Malian ( ) hopes to make a statement with his candidacy
as the first Armenian candidate seeking an EU Parliament seat.

Although the results of the vote will be known only hours after the
elections, they will be announced just before midnight.

CONSTRUCTION OF AIRPORT TERMINAL TO TAKE ZVARTNOTS TO NEW HEIGHTS

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–Construction of a new terminal at Armenia’s main
international airport began on Monday by the Argentine Corporaion America
Company
managing the project.

Representatives of the Argentine company and Armenian government
ministers inaugurated the start of construction, describing it as
the first stage of the reconstruction of Zvartnots airport, which
is to conform to international standards with the completion of the
project. The airport’s commercial director Juan-Pablo Guechigian,
said the project would cost at least $42 million.

Justice Minister David Harutiunian, who oversees project
implementation, said the new three-story building is slated for
completion by 2007, and added that its ground floor, available for
passenger use, will be ready at the end of next year, as well as
construction of the upper floors.

Argentinean Armenian Eduardo Eurnekian, who operates 33 airports
across South America, owns Corporacion America which signed a 30-year
management contract with the Armenian government in December 2001
and took over Zvartnots several months later.

Officials in Yerevan said earlier that the reconstruction will enable
Zvartnots to handle at least 1.2 million passengers a year. Up to
800,000 people presently arrive at and depart from the airport each
year. Eurnekian reportedly looks to transform the airport into a
major transit hub for long-haul flights between Europe and Asia.

DASHNAKTSOUTIUN’S MARGARIAN MEETS WITH FRANCE’S SOCIALIST PARTY
REPRESENTATIVE
Announces the establishment of Hrair Maroukhian Foundation

PARIS (ARF Press Office)–Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau
representative Hrant Margarian congratulated France’s Socialist Party
first secretary François Hollande for his party’s firm stance on
Turkey’s entry into the European Union, suggesting the party exert
efforts to convince other European socialist parties to follow
suit. Hollande confirmed that he has pursued the matter with newly
elected President of the European Socialist Party Poul Nyrup Rasmussen,
and will work more actively in the coming weeks to push the issue.
The two met at the Paris headquarters of the Socialist Party on June 3.

Hollande explained that though it was not possible to get an ARF
representative to an electable position in the upcoming European
Parliament elections, he assured that the matter would be resolved in
time for other European and French elections. Noting ARF’s integral
participation in Socialist International, Margarian said the ARF
of Armenia, as a coalition government partner, is able to advance
socialist ideology through its activities, and works toward Armenia’s
European integration. The Bureau representative invited Hollande
to visit Armenia as a guest of the ARF, on the occasion of General
Assembly of CIS Socialist parties; Hollande accepted.

Margarian revealed that the ARF plans to establish the Hrair Maroukhian
Foundation to follow the example of France’s Jean Juares Foundation,
which seeks to foster democracy and social justice by assisting
Socialist International party members in the “new democracies” that
emerged following the collapse of dictatorships in Latin America,
Europe, Asia, and Africa. Hollande promised to collaborate with the
ARF on the venture.

Also participating during the meeting between Holland and Margarian
were France’s Socialist Party international secretary Philip Cordery
and ARF Western Europe Central Committee members Mourad Papazian and
Charles Papazian.

During a joint press conference that followed, Hollande announced
that in a recent letter he appealed to the president of Turkey to
address the issue and recognize the Armenian Genocide.

The sides also announced that a joint ARF, Socialist Party of France
announcement had been signed that calls for Turkey’s recognition of
the Armenian Genocide and calls on [European] citizens to cast their
votes in favor of Socialist party candidates.

 
NEWS IN BRIEF

– Foreign ministry spokesman Gamlet Gasparian said that dozens of
Armenian pilots are being forced to find work in Africa because the
state aviation company Armenian Airlines, has been declared bankrupt
and is facing a Russian takeover.

– A one-day seminar on Khomeini’s Thoughts and Views was organised by
the Iranology Department of Yerevan University and Iran’s cultural
advisor to Armenia. The seminar was attended by Armenian scholars
and politicians.

– The Armenian Chess Academy has decided to organise an Internet
Chess Tournament in December of this year, in which the four best
countries -China, India, Russia and Armenia – will take part.

– Steven Mann, the new U.S. chief negotiator on Nagorno-Karabakh,
paid an unexpected and low-key visit to Yerevan which officials said
focused on international efforts to resolve the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict. Mann had separate meetings with President Robert Kocharian
and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian for the second time in six weeks.

– About 5,000 anti-government protesters defied an order by the mayor
of the Armenian capital and held a rally Friday, the latest in a
two-months-long series of protests aimed at forcing the resignation
of President Robert Kocharian.

GIBRAHAYER MOBILE ALERTS

Gibrahayer are initiating Gibrahayer mobile alerts, a mobile sms
notification service about upcoming events and happenings as well as
important news related to Armenia and Cyprus.

If you would like to subscribe to this service, you can do so
by sending an sms to 99437073 with your subscription notification
reading: YES HOS EM and you will be added to the list. Alternately to
unsubscribe you can send a notification reading: TS

The service will begin on a trial run for FREE from July 2004. Details
to follow.

Friday June 11, 2004. Gibrahayer – Nicosia.
RECOMMENDED SITES  

g i b r a h a y    c a l e n d a r

* Armenian Independence celebrations in Cyprus: Images from the TASHDAHANTES
of the 86th anniversary of The Armenian Republic as well as the Memorial
service in memory of Archbishop Zareh Aznavourian at:

* Memorial Service in memory of Hnchakian Ksan Gakhaghanner. Sunday June 13,
2004 at at Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church, Nicosia.

* A Tour to Armenia is being organised by the Central Executive of Hamazkayin
from August 20-September 3, 2004 with the participation of members and
friends from Armenian diaspora communities. Trips to Karabagh are also
scheduled. To
receive more info and to apply for the trip please contact the Cyprus
Hamazkayin committee members until June 30 2004.

* The Armenian Prelature of Cyprus announces that the next permit for the
Armenian Cemetery visitation at Ayios Dhometios on the Green line, is scheduled
for this Sunday June 13, 2004.

* HAMAZKAYIN FORUM 2004 The 10th Forum, Lebanon:From July 12-18 (Optional)
Armenia: From July 19-31, 2004. Thought provoking lectures, trips to historic
and amazing destinations, and nights of dancing and entertainment are only some
of the Forum highlights. For many Armenian students across the globe, the
Hamazkayin Summer Forum is one of the most anticipated events of the year.
Those
interested should visit the website for more details on how to apply.

* If you are in London don’t miss this year’s SUMMER’S BOAT PARTY date: This
Saturday 12 June ’04, venue: The Yacht Club, Temple Pier, Victoria Embankment
WC2,  closest tube: Temple (circle & district line), time: 9:30pm to 3:00am,
entrance: £6 before 11pm £8 after age: strictly 18+ (id may be required) HAPPY
HOUR: 10:30pm to 11:30pm ALL DRINKS £2.50 music: Resident Josey Kray + FBI
Squad will be playing the hottest and latest hip hop & rnb tracks to rock da
boat. Plenty of Armenian, Arabic & Iranian, xtra: MC Battle to take place
Unofficial freestylers on show Top deck open to chill out and enjoy the amazing
view
Plenty of free parking close-by (map will be sent week before party) contact:
John 07961 166 969, Mel 07957 278 122 [email protected]

* JOURNEY TO ANATOLIA 2004
13th. August 2004 – 28th.August 2004
– Flights – Istanbul – Kayseri  (2004-08-13)
               Kars – Istanbul  (2004-08-28)
Airport Transfers*Boat Transfers*Package of Excursions*All Entrances for
Museums & Sights*Guide Interpreter*Overnight stay in 4 star Hotels with
breakfast
(only double rooms)
Price: EURO  1150 – Inquiry:
Alfrant Bedros Tel:00491739026590 Email: [email protected]
Journey details  (details are posted, as sent to us by the organiser)

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ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/21/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1. Oskanian Holds ‘Useful’ Talks with Azeri Counterpart
2. Vartan Gregorian Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
3. Baku-bound Armenian Officers Arrive
4. KLO Threatens Armenian Officers in Baku
5. Oskanian Discusses Positive Effects of Turkish Blockade

1. Oskanian Holds ‘Useful’ Talks with Azeri Counterpart

PRAGUE (RFE-RL)After a meeting in Prague on Monday with his Azerbaijani
counterpart Elmar Mamedyarov, Vartan Oskanian noted that the talks were
“useful” for the long-running international efforts to resolve the Mountainous
Karabagh conflict.
“The process is continuing. I cannot state at this point that we have reached
any concrete agreements. However, we find the overall course positive,”
Oskanian commented shortly after the meeting, which included the participation
of the French, Russian, and US mediators of the OSCE Minsk Group
Although Oskanian did not provide any new details about the ongoing peace
negotiations, he did confirm Mamedyarov, who earlier stated that the two sides
have begun considering the option of combining the resolution strategies
utilized by both sides of the conflict. Reports have made clear that the
Azerbaijani side wants a “step-by-step” plan that would indefinitely put
off an
agreement on Karabagh’s status, while the Armenian side remains resolute in
its
desire of a single “package” accord.
“The course and nature of the negotiations is such that one should really opt
for a synthesis of the two different positions,” Oskanian said. But he added
that Karabagh’s statusthe bone of contentionmust somehow be addressed under
any
compromise arrangement. “That synthesis should not be radically different from
our emphasis on Karabagh’s status,” he stated.
Oskanian once again denied speculations of the imposition of a US-backed plan
that requires the hand-over of three of the seven Armenian-controlled
districts
around Karabagh. “There is no concrete proposal. There are just general
discussions and nothing is being imposed on any of the parties,” he said,
commenting on his high-level talks in Washington earlier this month.

2. Vartan Gregorian Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

WASHINGTON, DC–(Combined Sources)–George W. Bush announced on Friday that
Vartan Gregorian, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, will be
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United State’s highest civil
award. The award was established by President Truman in 1945 to recognize
civilians for their service during World War II, and it was reinstated by
President Kennedy in 1963 to honor distinguished service.
“We are greatly pleased to see Vartan Gregorian’s years of public service and
tremendous contributions to the field of education recognized by President
Bush
with the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. “Armenian Americans join today with Armenians around the world in
honoring Dr. Gregorian’s scholarship and many achievements in world of
learning, his truly tireless leadership in the civic life of the United
States,
and, of course, his abiding devotion to his Armenian heritage.”
Born in Tabriz, Iran, Gregorian received his elementary education in Iran and
his secondary education in Lebanon. In 1956 he entered Stanford University,
where he majored in history and the humanities, graduating with honors in
1958.
He was awarded a PhD in history and humanities from Stanford in 1964.
A former university professor who has taught European and Middle Eastern
history at San Francisco State College, the University of California at Los
Angeles, and the University of Texas at Austin, Gregorian joined the
University
of Pennsylvania faculty in 1972 and was appointed Tarzian Professor of History
and professor of South Asian history. He was founding dean of the Faculty of
Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania in 1974 and four years
later became its twenty-third provost until 1981. That year, Gregorian assumed
his position as president of the New York Public Library, an institution
with a
network of four research libraries and eighty-three circulating libraries.
Prior to his current position with the Carnegie Corporation, which he assumed
in June 1997, Gregorian served for nine years as the sixteenth president of
Brown University following his appointment to the position in 1989.
The recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees, Gregorian was awarded
the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 1986 and the American Academy of the
Institute of Arts and Letters’ Gold Medal for Service to the Arts in 1989. In
1998, President William Jefferson Clinton awarded him the National Humanities
Medal.
Gregorian joins His Holiness Pope John Paul II, American entertainment icon
Doris Day, entrepreneur Estee Lauder, famed golf champion Arnold Palmer and
eight other distinguished men and women in receiving the prestigious award.
Bush will honor the recipients at a White House ceremony on Wednesday, June
23.

3. Baku-bound Armenian Officers Arrive

YEREVAN (Armenpress/RFE/RL)–In their second attempt to participate in a NATO
conference Armenian officers Murad Isakhanian and Aram Hovhannissian
arrived in
Baku, on Monday to take part in a June 22 NATO conference within its
Partnership for Peace (PfP) program.
Armenian officers were not able to attend the first NATO planning conference
in Baku last January after Azerbaijan blocked their arrival.
Defense Ministry spokesman Seyran Shahsuvarian said the two army officers
boarded a Baku-bound plane in Tbilisi after being formally allowed to enter
the
country by the Azerbaijani embassy in Georgia’s capital. The Armenian mission
in Tbilisi confirmed that they were issued a special “written permission” on
June 11, to attend the conference.
Armenia has repeatedly stated its intention to take part in the exercise and,
under the PfP rules, does not need Azerbaijan’s consent for doing that.
“I am ready to go there even if they kill me,” said Colonel Murad Isakhanian,
one of the two Armenian officers attending the NATO seminar shortly before
flying to Baku. “I am a military officer and must obey orders,” he added.
According to Shahsuvarian, responsibility for ensuring their security
primarily lies with NATO.

4. KLO Threatens Armenian Officers in Baku

BAKU (Baku Today)–The Karabagh Liberation Organization (KLO) lashed out at
Azerbaijan’s high-ranking foreign ministry officials, as well as some local
human rights activists and celebrities for “falling victim to Armenian
policies.”
KLO accused Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and his deputy Araz Azimov of
“making irresponsible and illogical” statements in approving the planned visit
of Armenian military officers to Baku for a June 22 preparatory conference for
military exercise to be held in Azerbaijan in September under NATO’s
Partnership for Peace (PfP) program.
Mammadyarov and Azimov apparently told the local media that since the
conference is a NATO organized event, it would be unwise on the part of
Azerbaijan to create obstacles for the Armenian officers.
“By making irresponsible and illogical statements, Mammadyarov and Azimov
have
demonstrated that are ready to go for concessions on the Karabagh issue,” a
statement by KLO read.
“They invite and express readiness to sit down at the same table with the
Armenian officers who have slaughtered more than 20,000 Azerbaijanis, occupied
our territories, and now continue murdering our soldiers and officers,”
continued the statement, vowing to take radical action to stop the entry of
Armenian officers.
“The Karabagh Liberation Organization believes that these people have been
trapped by the Armenian Diaspora and they have become…participants of a vast
plot against Azerbaijan… But we will not allow this treacherous design to be
carried out,” the statement added.

5. Oskanian Discusses Positive Effects of Turkish Blockade

WASHINGTON, DC–Turkey’s economic blockade of Armenia has had an unexpected
positive effect on the economy, said Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian,
in a June 17 interview with The Washington Times.
Oskanian said the Turkish embargo, imposed on Armenian since the early 1990s,
has forced Armenia to diversify its economy
“We are developing and developing well. We are more efficient, more
effective,” he told Washington Times correspondent Tom Carter in an interview
at the Armenian Embassy last week.
“We have strengthened our [information technology] industry. We have
diversified into diamonds and jewelry: things that can go out on satellite or
in small pouches on airplanes.”
Oskanian met with Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Adviser
Condoleezza Rice and a host of Congressional members during his brief working
visit.
The foreign minister stated that Armenia was gratified for being selected as
part of the Millennium Challenge Account, which will give the country
access to
US financial aid in the next three to five years.
“There are billions of dollars available, which will be extremely valuable to
our economy,” noted Oskanian, predicting that his country will continue to
liberalize the economy, invest in “human capital” and improve human rights and
the rule of law.
Oskanian said Armenia supported the US-led effort to liberate Iraq, although
it did not provide troops. Armenia granted permission for coalition planes to
fly over its territory and is prepared to send a specialist team to help
remove
land mines.
The minister also said Armenia’s relationship with the European Union
improved
this week when the union welcomed Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia under its
“neighborhood policy,” which aims to encourage ties with the European bloc.
However, he added that the designation does not guarantee membership.

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Internet crimes in Armenia
By: Ludmila Goroshko

Computer Crime Research Center, Ukraine
June 22 2004

Most of computer crimes in the banking sphere of Armenia are committed
through the Internet, Olga Safaryan, legal expert of “Internews”
told during seminar “Legal Field of Information Technologies and
Their Correspondence to European Standards”.

She said that these crimes are not solved in Armenia, like anywhere
in the world, because banks try to avoid announcing such information;
they fear to incur reputation damage. Olga Safaryan informed that
these crimes haven’t been prosecuted yet hence they have no special
organization to fight computer crimes in Armenia.

“In my report I suggest, on the analogy of other CIS countries,
to create a department to control computer crimes. At the moment,
it is still not clear who will investigate these crimes if they
occur, and therefore there are no statistics,” she said. Besides,
Safaryan noted that August 1, 2003 a new Criminal Code of Republic of
Armenia came into force, where chapter 24 that consists of 7 articles
is fully devoted to computer crimes. The worst crime is the one
committed through negligence, causing of harm to health or other grave
consequences. It is provided for by article 254, part 4, to establish
6 through 12 years jail for illegal access to computer information.
“However, this article does not define grave consequences that may
lead to problems applying it”, she said.

Global Watchdog Skeptical About Armenian Anti-Graft Body
By Ruzanna Stepanian 19/06/2004 01:12

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
June 18 2004

A special body formed recently to coordinate the Armenian government’s
promised fight against endemic corruption is likely to be ineffectual
because of its dependence on the executive branch, a top representative
of the world’s most renowned anti-graft watchdog said Friday.

“What I know about this suggests that it is not an independent body.
We know from the international experience that only independent
bodies can accomplish anything,” Miklos Marschall, Transparency
International’s regional director for Europe and Central Asia,
told RFE/RL.

The Council on Combating Corruption was set up by President
Robert Kocharian on June 2 with the stated aim of overseeing
the implementation of actions stemming from the government’s
anti-corruption strategy unveiled last November. It is headed by
Prime Minister Andranik Markarian and comprises Justice Minister
David Harutiunian, Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepian, Central Bank
Chairman Tigran Sarkisian and other high-ranking officials.

Marschall voiced skepticism about the Armenian authorities’ repeated
promises to tackle bribery, favoritism and other rampant corrupt
practices “There is much talk about corruption but you haven’t
seen real cases prosecuted by the appropriate authorities,” he said,
speaking on the sidelines of an international conference on corruption
in the region which was organized by Transparency International.

Marschall argued that if an anti-corruption effort is to be successful
in Armenia it must primarily target the highest echelons of state
power because graft has become an “elite business” in the country
since the Soviet collapse.

No serving senior government officials are known to have been
prosecuted on corruption charges in Armenia in recent years.
According to Kocharian’s anti-corruption aide, Bagrat Yesayan, its
government has finally realized the seriousness of the problem and
is now committed to addressing it in earnest.

The government’s anti-corruption plan contains a long list of mostly
legislative measures which are to be taken in the next three years.
Government critics dismiss the document as a public relations stunt
meant to mislead Western donors. The latter have for years been
pressing Yerevan to take serious action against what they see as a
key obstacle to Armenia’s economic development.

In Transparency International’s most recent global survey of
“corruption perceptions” released last fall, Armenia was ranked 78th
out of 133 countries surveyed, the last one being considered the
most corrupt. Neighboring Azerbaijan and Georgia were rated even more
poorly by the Berlin-based group.

NATIONAL STANDARD FOR GROUND COFFEE DEVELOPED

ArmenPress
June 17 2004

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS: A recently founded National Academy
of Consumers said today it has developed a new national standard of
ground coffee that is being now reconciled with appropriate bodies.
An expert of the Academy said none of the applied normative documents
specifies the permitted level of humidity of coffee. She added that
the new coffee standard has been brought in compliance with European
standards. The new standard was developed in cooperation with local
producers of ground coffee.

The expert said introduction of this standard will allow tax
authorities to introduce some changes. In case of a higher level of the
permitted humidity standard customs officers may ban its import into
the country, as micro-toxic agents begin developing in humid coffee.

A recent examination of the quality of locally produced ground coffee
revealed that virtually all of them contained toxic agents.

El Pais, Espana
June 17, 2004

La policia investiga a empleados de un empresario muerto en Orihuela

R. LL.

Alicante

Un empresario de la construccion, de 45 anos y de nacionalidad
armenia, fue asesinado el martes a cuchilladas en la puerta del
garaje de un hotel de su propiedad, en la costa de Orihuela (Vega
Baja). La victima, que residia en la localidad desde hace 12 anos,
era un potentado empresario que poseia diversas mercantiles con
numerosos empleados a su mando. La policia judicial investiga en el
entorno de sus trabajadores. En principio, la hipotesis del ajuste
de cuentas a cargo de la mafia rusa ha perdido fuerza dado que, segun
la investigacion, los negocios de la victima son aparentemente legales.

La Guardia Civil tomo ayer declaracion a trabajadores de la victima.
El asesinato de A. G. se registro sobre las seis de la tarde,
cuando el constructor procedia a entrar a la puerta del garaje de su
aparthotel, en la urbanizacion Villamartin. Un individuo le asesto tres
punaladas, dos en el abdomen y otra en el costado, que le ocasionaron
la muerte. La urbanizacion Villamartin, en la costa de Orihuela, es
un enclave donde residen un gran numero de inquilinos extranjeros,
singularmente britanicos. La victima vivia alli con su mujer y sus
hijos. Es el segundo constructor asesinado en la Vega Baja este ano.

Book on Armenian genocide by Turks concerns Kurds

Kurdish Media
June 6 2004

London (KurdishMedia.com) 06 June 2004:

BooK: THEY CALLED ME MUSTAFA: MEMOIR OF AN IMMIGRANT by Khachadoor
(Archie) Pilibosian, edited and coathored by Helene Pilibosian, is the
story of Khachadoor, a boy caught in the Armenian Genocide, kidnapped
by a Kurd and years later escapes slavery to emigrate to America.

Detailed are his birthplace of Ichmeh in Armenia and Armenian immigrant
life in Watertown, Mass., including his employment at the first
Star Market store in Watertown Square and his own store, Huron Spa
in Cambridge. His acquaintance with artist Arshile Gorky and Yenovk
Der Hagopian, singer of Armenian troubadour songs, is recorded.

Added for a second edition, Part II includes English translations
of his poems and stories presented for their authenticity of fact
and emotion. They were translated by Hagop Sarkissian with Helene
Pilibosian, who also wrote Notes on Part II, analyzing the reasons for
writing about genocide. With nostalgic photographs. ISBN 1-929966-04-0,
187 pages, paper, $16 (add $2 shipping).

This book has been licensed for the award-winning academic database
North American Immigrant Diaries, Letters and Oral Histories published
by Alexander Street Press.

MASSACHUSETTS STATE REPRESENTATIVE Warren Tolman read the Author’s
Preface at the April 24, 1992, Commemoration at the State House in
Boston. He added, “It is a very, very powerful book.”

NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FORMER SENIOR LECTURER Charles T. Ajamian
wrote in The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, “It is a compelling story. It
affords new and corroborating insights into the Genocide.’

MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW: “Highly recommended.”

Available at Ohan Press, 171 Maplewood St., Watertown, MA 02472-1324
[email protected] Also available
at amazon.com, bn.com, Baker & Taylor

HEALTH PROGRAMS TO TARGET MOTHER AND INFANT MORTALITY

ArmenPress
June 2 2004

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS: Maternal and infant mortality rates still
continue to remain be high in Armenia. Among the most pressing problems
are the increasing rate of pre-birth mortality rate, widespread anemia,
especially among pregnant women and early childhood, widespread
endemic deficit of iodine, continuous birth of low weight children,
high abortion rates.

The average three month rates for maternal mortality for 100,000
births was 43.3 in 1999-2001 and infant mortality rate for 1000 birth
was 14 in 2002. Figures are not available for 2003.

Last year, 36.700 children were born in Armenia, 540 of who died.

The great majority of Armenian mothers keep to breast feeding.
Among 100 children of 1 year at least 69 receive beast feeding up to
4 months, which reduces mortality risk up to 7-10 times.

Maxine Lynch Bedyn: Run ragged escorting Malak Ottawa Citizen

Ottawa Citizen
May 28, 2004

In the early ’70s, as an information officer at the Canadian Government
Office of Tourism, I was assigned to arrange film and still photos
of the NAC.

Malak Karsh was commissioned to shoot the stills. He would arrive
at my apartment at 5 a.m. to review photos, after leaving the dark
room at two in the morning. In-between, we trekked all of the NAC,
shooting stills of the building and performances at night. Although
in my 20s, I found his schedule exhausting.

One evening, in the middle of a play, Malak exuberantly ran on to
the stage to get a better shot. The union was aghast and threatened
to walk out. I had to mollify many ruffled feathers.

Finally, one evening, I curled up in the press box of the Opera,
to rest during a performance. Joe Morrissey, a colleague from the
CGOT, locked me in. I suddenly came to from a snooze to find myself
enveloped in the dark of the NAC!

Heart pounding, I knocked on the door – no answer. Unbeknownst to me,
Joe crept back and quietly unlocked the door. I knocked some more and,
suddenly able to open the door, I stormed out to find Malak sitting
innocently on the wall near the canal.

Malak shot several award-winning photos of the NAC that were used
promotionally for many years, and often spoke to me of the fun we
had that summer.