Author: Virabian Jhanna

ARMENIAN SPECIALIST OF OIL PRODUCING INDUSTRY IS HOPEFUL
By Hakob Tsulikian

Azg/am
27 Oct 04

Recently, Iran promised Armenia $30 million for the construction of
the Armenian part of Iranâ~@~SArmenia gas pipeline. Armen Sahakian,
specialist of Oil Producing Industry, from London, who had played a
decisive role in the elaboration of that program, expressed hope that
the construction of that gas pipeline can become a reality. According
to Armenian Mirror Spectator, he visited Armenia for many times, and
together with the specialist from RA Energy Ministry studied details of
the program. In 1997 he left for Iran and greatly contributed to the
negotiation process. “Taking into account its sources, Iran occupies
the second place in the world and the government is ready to implement
the program. The fact that the Iranian side financed the construction
of the Armenian part of the gas pipeline evidences it”, he said.

Armen Sahakian is the grandson of Avetik Sahakian, chairman of
the Parliament of the first Republic of Armenia (1918-1920). He
was born in Baghdad, where his father, Suren worked as a chemist at
Iraqi oil producing company. His grandfather, Avetik moved to Tabriz
after Armenia became a Soviet republic. Armen Sahakian studied at
Beirutâ~@~Ys American University, as well as at Munich and Michigan
Universities. Afterwards, winning the scholarship of the Iranian
National Oil Predicting Company, he finished Harvard University.

“Form the viewpoint of progress, Armenia is in more favorable position
than its neighbors, and I would like to contribute to the prosperity
and development of the country as much as I can,” Armen Sahakian
emphasized.

–Boundary_(ID_f8b7/9hFSKZ/2U6/czf+fA)–

Associated Press Worldstream
October 20, 2004 Wednesday 11:23 AM Eastern Time

Europe hopes to carve new role in world affairs through “ring of
friends”

ROBERT WIELAARD; Associated Press Writer

BRUSSELS, Belgium

The 25-member European Union – now comprising eight ex-communist
nations and considering membership for Muslim-dominated Turkey – is
busily crafting a “Wider Europe” as well. It would stretch far beyond
the EU’s formal borders and aim to lock a diversity of nearby lands
into democracy and good neighborly relations through tailor-made
programs of trade and assistance.

But the blueprint for a “ring of friends” making Europe’s
neighborhood safe, secure and prosperous comes with complications:
There is Israel and its nuclear ambiguity and security morass.
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus show creeping authoritarianism. Libya may
be emerging from the cold, but it is still a dictatorship. The
Balkans remain a scary doorstep.

In many ways, however, this may be the very point.

The EU’s outreach program to sometimes dangerous places beyond its
borders marks a dramatic shift in Europe’s perception of how it can
play a key – perhaps central – role in world affairs: The strategy is
one of exploiting economic clout to both achieve influence on the
world stage and shape the rim of Europe. Perhaps Europe might even
school America – and its many Euro-cynics – in the merits of
persuasion rather than force.

“We want to strengthen the instruments available to us to become a
dynamic protagonist in the world. The EU has a leading role to play
in securing human rights and democracy,” said Austrian Foreign
Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who is set to take over as the EU
external relations commissioner on Nov. 1.

If the United States has in the post 9/11 era become ever more
willing to use its overwhelming military might as a stick to bring
nations into line, the EU appears to be awakening to the possibility
that the lure of “Old World” good life can be a comparably persuasive
carrot in provoking change in areas of chaos and repression.

To see that go-softly approach in action, consider Turkey.

A decade ago, the notion that outside interference might succeed in
convincing Turkey to implement meaningful democratic reforms,
dismantle a system of judicial repression based largely on torture,
curb the power of a military that had dominated society for decades,
and loosen state control over the economy would have seemed remote.

But those objectives have largely become a reality. And the reason,
of course, is the strict conditions – based on human rights as well
as fiscal soundness – that Europe imposed on Turkey to win even a
prospect of EU membership.

In economic terms at least, Europe is a genuine superpower.

The EU’s enlargement last May added 75 million consumers, creating a
single market of 450 million people, compared to 420 million for
NAFTA – the countries of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Its
total GDP – [euro]8,800 billion (US$11,017 billion) in 2003 –
outstrips, by today’s exchange rate, that of the United States –
[euro]8,787 billion (US$11,000 billion).

It is already the world’s biggest trader, home to one of the world’s
most sought-after currencies and – defined as a single unit – is the
world’s biggest donor, spending more than [euro]500 million a month
in assistance projects on all five continents.

In the decades following World War II, Europe clamored for the need
for multilateralism in world affairs as a balance to U.S. might,
while relying heavily on the U.S. nuclear umbrella to nurture
standards of living that would eventually become the envy of the
world.

Now, however, there are signs it’s hoping to offer a serious
alternative to American influence in world affairs.

One prominent scholar, Robert Kagan – author of “Of Paradise and
Power,” a widely acclaimed analysis of trans-Atlantic alienation –
believes the divergences are deep, and threaten to be lasting.

“On major strategic and international questions today, Americans are
from Mars and Europeans are from Venus: They agree on little and
understand one another less and less,” Kagan writes in the opening of
his book.

By Nov. 2, the EU hopes to have deals with Ukraine, Moldova, Morocco,
Tunisia, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority under its “New
Neighborhood Policy.” Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia,
Lebanon, Libya, Syria and Tunisia are next.

In some cases the relationship is new; in others, like that of
Israel, it amounts to an expansion of existing association
agreements.

The aim is, where needed, to steer neighbors toward more democracy,
sounder economic policies, sensible defense spending, respect for
minorities, sustainable development and peaceful settlement of ethnic
disputes.

Their reward: More aid, trade, regular political consultations and –
importantly – easy access to the EU market of 455 million consumers.

“We must never forget European integration is not about milk quotas
and customs duties,” says Guenter Verheugen, the EU commissioner for
expansion matters. “It is about peace, stability and prosperity…”

Negotiations with the first seven candidates have gone fairly well,
except for Israel, which complains the EU uses the bonanza of trade
and aid to simply grab a more prominent role in the Mideast peace
process. Long wary of what it considers pro-Arab views in Europe,
Israel wants the EU to continue to play second fiddle to the United
States in Middle Eastern diplomacy.

Russia, meanwhile, has brushed aside any suggestion of being part of
multi-nation deal, insisting on special treatment that would reflect
its image of itself as a global power.

The EU has proposed an alternative “strategic partnership” with
Russia that focuses on four areas: Trade and investments, cooperation
in law enforcement and nonproliferation issues, settling border
disputes with EU members Estonia and Latvia and visa-free travel for
Russians in Western Europe. The EU and President Vladimir Putin hope
to sign the accord Nov. 11, though prospects are uncertain.

San Francisco Chronicle, CA
Oct 17 2004

Armenia reveals ancient treasures, new life
Mountains, monasteries and modern capital

Jane Wampler, Special to The Chronicle

Yerevan, — Armenia

On a clear autumn day, the smell of fresh cement and the sound of
chisels and hammers permeates the capital city of Armenia. Sidewalk
cafes overflow with suited businessmen and couples talk over
demitasse cups of strong, boiled coffee. Fashionable women in rimless
sunglasses and stiletto heels walk arm in arm, sidestepping
wheelbarrows and loose paving stones, and several new luxury hotels
are nearly booked to capacity.

It’s clear that Armenia is making a comeback. Again.

After surviving genocide, 70 years of Soviet domination, a
devastating earthquake in 1988 and millennia of foreign marauders who
whittled this once-massive kingdom to one-tenth of its size, this
Eurasian country of 3 million inhabitants is reassuming its role of
phoenix.

Because it was cloaked behind the Iron Curtain for most of the 20th
century, few Westerners, until recently, have glimpsed of this
culturally rich, mountain republic tucked between the Caspian and the
Black seas. What only the privileged have known, until this past
decade, is that this is an astonishingly beautiful country of high
mountain lakes, snow-capped peaks, ancient monasteries, cascading
rivers and archeological ruins so impressive they ought to be behind
the velvet ropes of a museum.

Perhaps more significantly, for a region of the world more associated
with terror than tourism, many Westerners are surprised to hear that
this predominantly Christian nation — bordered by Iran, Turkey,
Georgia and Azerbaijan — is politically stable and welcoming to
tourists.

Try to buy a single peach from a roadside fruit stand and the old
woman will wave your money away. Ask a farmer if you may take a photo
of him with his crop of newly harvested red peppers, and he will
press a bag of 20 of them into your hand, refusing payment.

The prices are particularly tourist-friendly. At Old Erivan
Restaurant, one of Yerevan’s dozens of eateries that serve quality
Armenian fare , my husband and I enjoy a meal of lavash, tomato and
cucumber salad, a cheese platter, lamb stew and khorovatz (a meat and
vegetable shish kebab) — washed down with several strong Armenian
beers — for under $15.

Drawing on the past

The rebirth of Armenia after the end of the Soviet Union in the early
1990s has had financial help from the approximately 8 million members
of the Armenian Diaspora, 1.4 million of whom live in the United
States (1 million in the Los Angeles area alone). Many are
descendants of those who perished or fled during the 1915-25 Turkish
genocide.

While those who visited shortly after Armenia regained independent
statehood found gutted factories and streets stripped of trees for
fuel, today they find fountains spraying and flowers blooming along
boulevards lined with Russian olive and locust trees. Crowds of
stylishly dressed mothers and children walk down Khanjian Street to
buy roasted coffee beans, potatoes, onions, ice-cream and fried sweet
cakes from street vendors.

But despite Armenia’s forays into modernism and self-sufficiency, the
rich and tragic past hasn’t dimmed. Nor does anyone want it to:
Armenia’s 4,000-year-old history is its main draw.

Many consider this country the cradle of civilization. The biblical
rivers of Tigris and Euphrates originate in the original Armenia, the
16,945-foot-high snow-capped Mount Ararat (now inside Turkey’s
borders) holds what many believe to be the remnants of Noah’s Ark in
its crevasses, and there even is reference in the Bible to Ararat,
the name of the former Armenian kingdom.

In 301 AD, Armenia became the first nation to embrace Christianity
as a state religion (a dozen years before Rome) — another factor
that shapes this tiny republic’s past and present tourist appeal.

A common sight from spring through fall are “monastery tours”:
busloads of people on weeklong organized sightseeing excursions that
shuttle from such Hellenistic pagan temples as the 1st century Garni,
to the 3rd century Echmiadzin (ETCH-me-OTT-sin) Cathedral, home to
the Supreme Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox faith. At
Echmiadzin (think: Vatican but smaller) nonbelievers mingle with
pilgrims to view ancient silver chalices, bejeweled crosses and
religious relics such as a metal spearhead believed to have pierced
the side of Christ.

Travels with Boris

Group tours are plentiful, but if you want to strike out solo,
consider hiring a driver who speaks English to ferry you through the
countryside, or even to the main sites of the capital city. That’s
what we did during a one-week visit in late September. We found our
driver, Boris (a former Soviet-system mathematician now struggling,
like many of the highly educated, to reinvent himself), through the
Armenian Tourism Development Agency, which was happy to supply us
with a list of recommended English-speaking guides.

We chose several sites, all southeast of Yerevan, for a 2- 1/2 day
excursion. They included the famous dungeon of Khor Virap; Noravank
monastery; the historically and spiritually significant Tatev
Monastery; the Bronze Age celestial observatory, the Zorats Stones;
and a natural wonder, Devil’s Bridge. Boris was more than willing to
pack an overnight bag and accompany us.

Something to keep in mind: Although the map shows Armenia to be a
small country, getting from point A to point B can take longer than
you anticipate. There are no super highways here. And it takes time
to wait out cattle crossings, to dodge potholes and to wind up narrow
mountain roads.

On the first morning of our excursion, we emerged, bleary-eyed from
the Congress Hotel in Yerevan. Boris was waiting for us, polishing
the windshield of his red Niva, a Soviet-made SUV. Within an hour we
were watching Mount Ararat turn an orangey pink and by 10:30 a.m.
Boris announced what would become a comforting ritual: a coffee
break. He pulled the car over to the side of the road and removed
from his trunk a small propane stove, a bag of powdered coffee, sugar
and three small china cups.

While we took in the views, Boris set out the coffee with sweet cakes
(kizgiel, baked early that morning by his wife, Jana) and jam for a
makeshift picnic on the roadside rocks. We drank our coffee in the
squat position, like Boris, and poured the remaining hot water over
our jam-stained, sticky fingers.

Khor Virap is an eerie place with two claims to fame: The church
complex was built atop the well where St. Gregory the Illuminator had
been imprisoned (depending on who is telling the story) for 12 to 17
years only to emerge and baptize the King and Queen of Armenia and
herald the introduction of Armenia as the first Christian nation.
Climb down into the narrow pit on a ladder and when you’re through
imagining Gregory’s claustrophobia, climb back out to the blazing sun
and get the closest view of Mount Ararat in all of Armenia — the
Turkish border is within walking distance from here.

Noravank, perched on a forested cliff top, high above a river gorge
and surrounded by caves, is a 13th century monastery surrounded by
dramatic red rock outcroppings. On a bright afternoon, there was
nobody else wandering the compound. A hawk circled overhead in the
clear sky. We wandered the church grounds and tracde khatchkars
(“cross stones” — unique and elaborate crosses carved on tufa or
basalt tablets found primarily in Armenia) with our fingertips.

There was no shortage of natural beauty on this journey. We hikde
along the verdant banks of a stream below the monastery and, on the
drive out of the gorge, noticed many caverns tucked into the
outcroppings. In one of them, an enterprising man has converted the
cave into a clean and comfortable restaurant. We weren’t the only
sightseers who found him: As we ventured into the cozy grotto, we saw
him shuttling pitchers of red wine, hard-boiled eggs, barbecued pork
and grilled vegetables to a table of raucous Russians, the largest of
whom was wearing a drunken grin, a traditional sheepherder’s cloak
and crooked hat.

About this time we discovered that Boris perceived his job as more
than driver. We were his charges, and it was a role he assumed
gravely. He was protector, wrinkling his brow in concern as the
sheepherder and his friends loudly insisedt that we share a mug of
wine, and negotiator, finagling the best price for our hotel room in
Sisian later that evening.

Shades of Stonehenge

The next morning, we left our cold and dank hotel shortly after dawn
because we were eager to see the Zorats stones — or Zorakar — in
the day’s first light. This circular arrangement of stones, thought
to be a celestial observatory, is similar to England’s Stonehenge,
but older. The Bronze Age phenomenon lies on a barren rolling plain
just outside of Sisian, and, like most other natural and manmade
wonders in Armenia, is startlingly unprotected and un-commercialized.
Only the snowcapped mountains, which loom over the windy field, stand
guard. We wandered through the deserted site of lichen-covered stones
and peered through holes that the ancient cosmographers might have
drilled to better view the heavens.

The road to Tatev is bumpy, but it soon opens to reveal a lushly
wooded canyon — the monastery perched on top like a crown. Indeed,
this 9th century complex was viewed as something of a prize to
invaders who attacked the site in numerous bloody waves. Other than a
caretaker (an old woman who appeared periodically to gather pears
that have fallen beneath a courtyard tree) we were once again
practically alone, free to explore the faded frescoes in dark rooms;
to consider the grisly remnants of a fairly recent chicken sacrifice;
to climb the lurchy heights of the fortified walls, and to imagine
the 13th century Mongols who, historians say, pushed Christians into
the gorge.

Our only disappointment was Devil’s Bridge, which we passed on the
way to Tatev. The rock formation and hot springs might be beautiful,
but the site is trashed by beer bottles, cigarette wrappers and other
remnants of partying. It would have been better to stay longer at
Tatev sipping a cup of Boris’ ubiquitous coffee or just soaking in
the sun on one of the precipices before the long drive back to
Yerevan.

‘New Armenia’ in the city

Back in Yerevan — with its rich history and plethora of significant
museums and fun restaurants — we find no shortage of things to do.

This city of 1.3 million is culturally vibrant and staggeringly old,
older than Rome — by 29 years. To put that in perspective, when
construction workers happened to ram into a 700-year-old stone
aqueduct, as they did last summer, it hardly registered a blip on
their archaeological radar screen.

The National Museum on bustling Republic Square — formerly called
Lenin Square — is as good of a starting place as any to get a flavor
for the country. Also known as the State Museum of Armenian History,
it has an English-speaking guide who can show you Uratian cuneiform
inscriptions dating back to the 8th century B.C. and 3,000-year-old
silver rhytons (drinking vessels), wine vats and horse carriages
uncovered in Lake Sevan.

>>From there, you can branch out to other not-to-be-missed sites (the
streets are arranged in a compact, easy-to-navigate pattern, and
anything too hard to reach by foot is a cheap cab ride away.) Stroll
through the Vernissage, a festive outdoor market that operates each
weekend near Republic Square. Here you’ll find accordions, old
toasters, Russian nesting dolls, obscure car parts, jewelry and
strolling musicians. The “closed bazaar,” a football stadium-sized
indoor market on West Mashtots Avenue, brims with fresh fruits and
vegetables displayed like gleaming jewels, and brightly colored
spices measured with a one-ounce shot glass.

The Matenadaran rare document museum (at 53 Mesrop Mashtots St.)
houses an extraordinary collection of ancient manuscripts, some
dating to the 9th century. An English tour guide — just $2.50 above
the regular $4 admission fee — will heighten the experience. The
highlight is a huge 15th century book of Armenian history. It was
ripped in half and smuggled out of the country by two peasant women,
at great peril, during the 1915 genocide. Both women, and both halves
of the book, survived.

This museum pays homage to Mesrop Mashtots, the founder of the
Armenian alphabet, unchanged since its inception in 405 A.D. That the
alphabet and the Armenian language are still intact after nearly
2,000 years is evidence of a country that has fiercely resisted
assimilation.

Echoing Saroyan

Armenians are fond of naming streets after, and quoting, their
heroes, from playwrights to poets to war generals. But it is novelist
William Saroyan who is most often quoted when Armenians talk about
their country coming perilously close to, then back from, the brink
of extinction more times than they can count. His most famous quote
speaks to the resilience of his people:

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this
small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought
and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music
is unheard and prayers are no more answered. . . . Burn their homes
and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again.
For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not
create a new Armenia.”

Saroyan’s words have never been more relevant, according to the
editor of Armenian International Magazine in Yerevan, which caters to
English-speaking Armenians.

“We only had two choices: a downward spiral after Soviet
totalitarianism or to blossom,” said Laura Gononian. “And we’re
blossoming. We’re undergoing a renaissance in art, music and in
building. We’re like the phoenix — we keep getting pounded and we
keep coming back.”

——————————————————————————–
If you go
Spring and autumn are the best times to visit, with moderate
temperatures and dry weather. The official currency is the Armenian
dram, but U.S. dollars are widely used. At press time $1 equals 585
dram. Yerevan has a cash economy, so credit cards aren’t helpful
here. All prices below are given in U.S. dollars; all locations are
in Yerevan.

Getting there

A passport and visa are required. Three-week tourist visas are
relatively easy to obtain through the Armenian consulate in Los
Angeles (for details, click on “Consular Affairs” at
or call 310-657-6102), or at Zvarnots Airport upon
arrival. British Airways is the leading carrier serving Armenia, with
flights from London to Yerevan three times a week. Upon arrival at
Zvarnots, the 20-minute cab ride to the city center should cost about
$15.

What to do

In Yerevan, your first stop should be the Armenian Tourism
Development Agency at 3 Nalbandyan St., not far from Republic Square
(look for the red pomegranate sign above their doorway). The staff is
bend-over-backwards helpful and can provide you with maps, books on
Armenian history, hotel information, and phone numbers of reputable
guides and drivers. Phone: (011) 374-1-54-23- 03 or 54-47-91.

Sightseeing tour operators: Menua Tours (), Sati
() and Princess Maneh ([email protected]) are just
three of the many travel agencies that offer sightseeing tours in
Armenia. If you plan to hike Mount Aragat (not Ararat, which is in
Turkey), note that most tour operators stop leading trips up the peak
after Sept. 30.

Where to stay

Congress Hotel, 1 Italia Street (just south of Republic Square).
011-374-1-58-00-95; fax 011-374-1-52-22-24; e-mail
[email protected]. A clean and modern four-star facility, it has
small rooms with private baths and air conditioning, plus a pool,
fitness center, restaurant and bar. Doubles, $100.

Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan, 1 Amirian Street, at Republic Square.
011-374-1-59-90-00; e-mail: [email protected]. Formerly the Hotel
Armenia, it’s considered by many to be the city’s flagship hotel The
rooms are on the small side but they are nice, with private baths,
air conditioning, satellite television and phones. Facilities include
two restaurants, cafe, bar, health club and business services.
Doubles, $140. Includes breakfast buffet.

PLACES TO EAT
Dolmama, 10 Pushkin St., 011-374-1-56-8921. Owner Jarair Avanian has
created an upscale but cozy continental eatery centrally located in
downtown Yerevan. Entrees range from $13 to $18.

Old Erivan, 2 Northern Ave., 011-374-1-54-05-75). This four-story
eatery is actually several restaurants under one roof, with dining
rooms ranging from elegant European to rooftop al fresco dining with
traditional Armenian food and live folk music. The ambitious décor
and lively entertainment is belied by the moderate prices. Entrees
range from $5 to $7.

For more information

The Armenian embassy Web site has sightseeing tips
and lodging information under its “Discover Armenia” link. Other
helpful Web sites include and

Armenia not to make deal with Itera

RosBusinessConsulting Database
October 14, 2004 Thursday

The Armenian government refused to acquire 10 percent of the shares
in ArmRosGazprom owned by the Russian company Itera because the
deal proposed by Itera was unprofitable, the press secretary of the
Armenian Energy Ministry reported. According to ARMINFO news agency,
she also declared that the Armenian government would not sell its 45
percent of the shares in ArmRosGazprom.

As reported earlier, Itera is holding negotiations on selling a
10-percent stake in Armrosgazprom. According to a source close to
the company, Itera is going to sell it for $30m because the company’s
authorized capital amounted to $280m.

Hellenic News of America
Oct 15 2004

Greek-American Voters United on Major Issues of Concern

Results of HCS Voter Survey
Over 85% of Respondents Did Not Know Positions of 2004 Presidential
Candidates

Below are the texts of the survey questions and the responses of the
participants:

Question 1: As a registered voter, are all or any of these
issues–Cyprus, the Ecumenical Patriarchate/Halki School of Theology,
Albania, and FYROM–important to you?

Responses: 91% responded that these issues were important; 9 %
indicated that they were not.

Question 2: Would the positions of candidates on any of these issues
influence your vote in the upcoming November presidential election?

Responses: 78% registered a “yes;” 22% said “no.”

Question 3: Do you know the positions of President George Bush,
Senator John Kerry, and Mr. Ralph Nader on the four key issues
(Cyprus, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Albania, and FYROM)?

Responses: 88% said that they did not know the position of the
candidates, with 12% responding that they were informed of their
positions.

Question 4: If you do not know the positions of the three major
presidential candidates on these four key issues (Cyprus, Ecumenical
Patriarchate/Halki, Albania, and FYROM), would you like to learn what
their positions are?

Responses: 90% responded “yes,” while 10% indicated that they had no
interest in learning their positions.

Question 5: Keeping in mind that media commentators and experts
identify several issues as critical to U.S. voters, namely, the state
of the economy, education, the environment, health care, and
security, among others, would you consider voting for a presidential
candidate based on his views on the issues important to
Greek-Americans (Cyprus, the Ecumenical Patriarchate/Halki, Albania,
and FYROM)?

Responses: 75% said “yes” to this question; 25% responded “no.”

Question 6: To which political party do you belong?

Responses: Democrats, 32%; Independents, 44%; Republican, 27%

Question 7: Are you aware that over a million Greeks, together with
1.5 million Armenians and 700,000 Assyrians were victims of the
genocide which took place in Anatolia starting in 1908 when the
Neo-Turks took over?

Responses: 93% responded that they were aware; 7% said that they were
not aware.

Question 8: In which state are you legally registered to vote?

Responses: [The editors have decided to group the individual states
listed in answers into regions.] North, 55%; South, 14%; East, 19%;
West, 12%.

Question 9: Would you consider writing a letter to one of the major
presidential candidates?

Responses: 70% of the respondents said “yes,” while 30% indicated
“no.”

Question 10: Are you aware of the existence of the Congressional
Caucus on Hellenic Issues?

Responses: 65% said “yes,” with the remaining 35% responding “no.”

Question 11: Is your Representative a member of the Congressional
Hellenic Caucus? See 108th Congress Hellenic Caucus list co-chaired
by Carolyn B. Maloney and Michael Bilirakis at

Responses: Split evenly—50% “yes,” 50% “no.”

Question 12: If not [answering “no” to question 11], do you consider
the Hellenic issues important for you to encourage your U.S.
Representative to join the Congressional Hellenic Caucus and will you
do so?

Responses: An overwhelming 91% responded “yes,” with only 9% of the
survey takers indicating “no.”

Conclusions

Although many different conclusions might be drawn from the survey
responses, the HCS Survey Team examined the results in an objective
fashion and concluded the following:

§ The overwhelming majority of survey participants (90%) indicated
that these issues were important to them, with over 75% specifying
further that their November votes could be influenced by the
positions of the candidates on these issues.

§ The respondents were committed enough to the specified issues to
express a willingness (65%) to write a letter to one of the major
presidential candidates.

§ Over 50% of the respondents indicated an awareness of the existence
of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues and a willingness to
encourage their Congressional Representative to join the caucus.
§ Over 90% indicated they were aware of the genocide(s) which took
place in Anatolia starting in 19908 when the Neo-Turks took over.

A Select Sampling of Respondents’ Comments

§ “We need to form more effective district lobbies in most
congressional districts. We also need more AHIPAC seminars on the
issues in every Greek community [in order] to mobilize and educate
the Greek-Americans about the issues.” [Independent from California
who offered to help]

§ “I am of Turkish descent. The flip side of the coin is that we feel
these issues, however valid they may be towards Greeks or Armenians,
encourage racism towards us as Turkish-Americans and discrimination
towards Turkish people in general. There are better ways to deal with
these matters than through Congress. Since I did take time to answer
your questions, you should not throw them out of your survey. We are
all after all ‘Americans.'” [Democrat from Pennsylvania]

§ “I am and have been very sympathetic to Greek issues, however, I am
a citizen of the USA and my vote strictly is based on the safety and
well being of this nation’s citizens.”

§ “I suggest that you [HCS] send out email that we can forward to
other friends [and] Hellenes who would like to go to this site and
vote on these issues. This is very good!! Congratulations for doing
this. Thank you so much. [Republican from New Hampshire]

§ “a) My Representative (Henry Waxman) is a member of the Hellenic
Caucus. However, I believe he is also a member of the Turkish Caucus.
What is AHI doing in such cases?

b) What is AHI doing to promote policy changes in the US State
Department? Are we (as a Hellenic community) providing scholarships
to students with the intent for them to enter foreign service and,
hence, influence US foreign policy?

c) In everything we do (as a Hellenic community), it seems that we
are reacting rather than acting.

d) It is vitally important that big-money Greeks collude their
efforts. There are so many organizations and people whose actions are
not coordinated. Do we really need so many groups? It does not how
cohesion and power.” [Independent from California]

§ “I would like to see support from HEC for H.R. 594/S. 349 to repeal
the WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) that cheats workers out of
the Social Security benefits they have paid into. Congress can pass
legislation to repeal the WEP. For example, Representatives McKeon
(R-CA) and Berman (D-CA) and Senators Feinstein (D-CA) and Collins
(R-ME) have introduced bills (H.R. 594/S. 349) to repeal the WEP. See
the URL concerning this issue at
among other sites. Thank
you, Vasilis Kirikos (Bill Herald)” [Democrat from Maryland]
§ “We need to focus on making Greece amore powerful country. We all
hope that they keep the momentum from the Euro world cup victory and
the super success of the Olympics. Greece and Greek diaspora around
the world (primarily Greek-Americans) should work hard to improve the
economy of Greece. Even though the Olympics was a success, it was
done under massive pressure and time constraints. Imagine if Greece
worked at the highest levels of efficiency without massive pressure?
The trait of a Greek being independent is both a blessing and a
curse. Let’s us have some workshops/seminars on how we can keep our
“independence” but learn how we can work together.

There is not doubt that the world fears Greece and its people, as to
what great things they can accomplish if they worked together.
The military must be made stronger and yes, Greece push for aid but
also do what it must do what it can on its own to build its own
military.” [Independent from California]

§ “Greek-Americans should support included Turkey in the EU. A
Europeanized Turkey is the best hope for a full Turkish troop
withdrawal from Cyprus, the reopening of the seminary in
Constantinople, and would allow Greeks to move back to the former
capital of the Byzantine Empire (and perhaps persuade the European
Commission to push for Agia Sophia to reopen as a cathedral).”
[Independent from Washington, D.C.]

The HCS Survey Team would like to thank the American Hellenic
Institute of Washington, DC for offering survey questions and
background information for discussion. Thanks are due the
Pan-Macedonian Association, Inc. for their active participation in
publicizing the survey and in offering background information and
survey questions. Most importantly, however, HCS would like to
express their appreciation to all of the people who took the time to
take the survey and pen their comments.

U.N. World Food Program cuts aid to refugees in Azerbaijan
By AIDA SULTANOVA

AP Worldstream
Oct 12, 2004

The United Nations said Tuesday it was cutting its food aid program for
tens of thousands of Azerbaijanis displaced by the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, a move government officials and rights groups warned would
worsen the plight of refugees.

Due to scarce funding, the U.N. World Food Program is forced to halve
the ration of wheat flour it is providing to nearly 145,000 people
displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh, it said in a news release.

Nagorno-Karabakh is an enclave in Azerbaijan that has been under
ethnic Armenian control since 1994, when a cease-fire ended a six-year
war that killed some 30,000 people and drove a million from their
homes. No permanent settlement has been reached in the conflict.

“This harsh measure is unavoidable and could have serious implications,
especially with winter coming, when food aid rations are most needed,”
the U.N. statement said.

Officials in Baku expressed concern over the decision.

“Cutting the U.N. food program will have a pernicious effect on
Azerbaijani refugees,” a government official told The Associated
Press on condition of anonymity.

“We believe that until people return to their native lands, this
U.N. program should continue running in full,” the official said.

Shargiya Dadasheva, head of Azerbaijan’s Society for Helping Refugees
and Internally Displaced People, lamented the move.

“This will make the lives of refugees and internally displaced people
even harder, since many of them, having no job and owning no land,
are forced to live only on that aid,” Dadasheva said.

“Double Standards” Line Towards Russia Harmful
by Jaba Devdariani

Civil Georgia, Georgia
Oct 11 2004

On October 7, when discussing the Russo-Georgian relations at PACE,
the Georgian delegation has pushed its usual trump-card – that
Russia is using “double standards” when dealing with separatism
and terrorism. While easy to grasp at first, the “double standards”
line obscures the key question: what kind of policy Russia should,
in Georgia’s opinion, pursue. More than that – the intuitive response
suggested by repeated use of the “double standards” line is very
wrong and harmful for Georgia’s interests in Europe.

This concept widely referred to in Georgia as a line of “double
standards” has long been arming the Georgian politicians in various
skirmishes against Russia. It dates back to the Abkhazia conflict
and then President Eduard Shevardnadze’s concept of “two Russias”
– one democratic, willing to support Georgian independence, and one
totalitarian, neo-imperialist, arming and backing the secessionist
movements. The concept became so entrenched in the vocabulary and
thinking of the Georgian politicians that they accept and repeat it
almost automatically. But maybe the new Georgian authorities need to
take a closer look.

The key element of the “double standards” policy was aptly put
by Chairperson Nino Burjanadze at the Parliamentary Assembly,
“one can not suppress separatism in Grozny [capital of Chechnya]
and support it [separatism] a few kilometres away in Georgia.” Simply
put, Russia is acting inconsistently – punishing own secessionists,
whilst helping them in Georgia. The conclusion seems evident – Russia
is bullying Georgia for trying to unite own country, but clings to
its own territorial integrity. Supposedly, what Georgia wants to say,
is that it also has the right to territorial integrity.

But let’s take the analysis one step deeper. If Georgia says Russia
applying “double standards” is bad, then, logically, it should be
applying a “single standard” out of the present two. Hence, either
support secessionism in Chechnya (an impossibility) or doing the same
in Abkhazia/South Ossetia as in Chechnya. What has been the Russian
“standard” in Chechnya? Chronic disregard to the human life, systematic
abuse of human rights, levelling of the towns and heavy-handed handling
of the civilian population, as well as the election farce to appoint
puppet presidents. Russia got slammed for this very “standard” at
the Council of Europe. Does Georgian delegation claim the right to
the same treatment of its own secessionist provinces?

The Russian delegation sees this logical inconsistency. Russian MP
Konstantin Kosachev, opposite number to the Georgian spokesperson
said “we fear that by pushing this debate on the agenda, Georgia
prepares public opinion on the eve of [Georgia’s] attempts to repeat
measures similar to those that were undertaken this summer – attempts
to forcefully resolve the Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflicts.”
The trouble is, the European MPs may start to see the picture the same
way, unless Georgia modifies and qualifies, its “double standards”
line or abandons it altogether.

The European MPs, apart from those intimately involved in Russian
affairs, do not know much about relations between Russia and Georgia.
The European mindset is very clear when it comes to use of force – it
is not tolerated under any pretext. This is echoed by the sociological
research: most US citizens think the country may use force to solve
the disputes if necessary, while most of the Europeans reject the idea.

So, if the Georgian policy was to become clearer and more honest,
the issues of Chechnya and Abkhazia/South Ossetia should once and
forever be divorced.

In an effort to pacify Russia, Georgia has muted criticism of the
Chechen policy. This may be in country’s pragmatic interest. But
the European position of the Georgian delegation should by no means
be interpreted as acquiescing with the human rights violations in
Chechnya.

Russia is wrong in its actions in Georgia’s rebel provinces because
this violates the principle of territorial integrity of Georgia
and supports rebels. There is no “double standard.” In fact,
Russia’s policy is rather consistent in supporting secessionism
in Transdniestria, in Nagorno Karabakh, in South Ossetia and in
Abkhazia. Only in Tajikistan Russia helped to root out an Islamic
movement, which was imported from Afghanistan.

True, Russia’s internal policies toward secessionism are not consistent
with its external ones. But this is a fact of life: the countries
are in habit of differentiating internal policies from external ones
on number of issues. Russia has the sovereign right to set Chechnya
policy, just as much as Georgia has the right to set the policy
towards Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

What Georgian politicians have to make clear is that Georgia fully
endorses the European principles of conflict settlement and vows to
affirm the principles of Human Rights in its conflict-settlement
efforts. At the same time Georgia should be against violation of
these European principles by Russia in Chechnya or elsewhere, if only
because they represent an immediate security threat to Georgia.

There should be a single standard Georgia advocates for: affirming
the territorial integrity of the states, and affirming the human
rights for each person within these states.

Jaba Devdariani is one of the founders of Civil Georgia, currently
serving as contributing editor.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 29 2004

Armenia Wants to Postpone Talks on Karabagh

30/09/2004 08:46

After the Astana meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents the
official Yerevan has come out with an initiative to postpone the
talks over the settlement of the Karabagh conflict.

AssA-Irada — Commenting on the Armenia’s initiative, Deputy Foreign
Minister Araz Azimov confirmed the fact that the Armenian side has
requested to be granted a delay to analyze the results of the talks
held so far. The date for the next talks with the Armenian side has
not been ascertained yet, he said.

Azimov underlined there is no need for a meeting of the Azerbaijani
and Armenian presidents’ special envoys as all issues related to the
conflict settlement are discussed during the regular meetings of the
two countries’ foreign ministers.

At the Astana summit official Baku called on Armenia to recognize
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and withdraw its armed forces from
the occupied lands.

Azimov stressed that the government of Azerbaijan is ready to ensure
the security of the Armenian community in Karabagh if Armenia accepts
the conditions laid by the Azerbaijani side.

Armenia occupied former autonomous Nagorno-Karabakh region and also
seven other Azerbaijani districts in 1991-94 war, forcing over
700,000 Azerbaijanis to leave their homes. Despite an armistice
signed in May 1994, no final solution has been achieved to the
conflict between the two countries.

Human rights in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and referendum in Belarus on
agenda of Venice Commission Plenary Session

Strasbourg, 06.10.2004 – Proposals for new human rights review mechanisms
for Kosovo, the constitutional situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the
forthcoming referendum in Belarus will be discussed at the 60th plenary
session of the Venice Commission (8 and 9 October, Scuola Grande di San
Giovanni Evangelista in Venice).

The Commission, the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional
issues, will also debate:

* Armenia’s law on public meetings,
* the Georgian draft law on restitution of housing and property to the
victims of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict,
* Ukrainian draft laws on the protection of indigenous people and on the
public prosecutor.

The Commission will look at two projects to amend the Armenian constitution.
Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly Tigran Torosyan will attend the
debate.
Lord Ashdown, the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, will
present the situation on the country.

Also attending the meeting are Deputy Special Representative of the UN
Secretary General for Police and Justice Jean-Christian Cady and Chief Legal
Adviser of KFOR Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Toussaint; Chief Justice of
England and Wales the Rt. Hon. Lord Woolf; President of the Constitutional
Court of the Republic of Korea Young-chul Yun and Deputy Chief Justice of
the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt Adel Omar Sherif. Ambassadors
Pietro Lonardo (Italy) and Johannes C. Landman (the Netherlands), Permanent
Representatives to the Council of Europe, will also be present.

All the adopted opinions are public and will be available on the Venice
Commission’s website shortly after the session:

Contacts in Venice during the session:
Gianni Buquicchio, mobile +39 338 347 85 76
Tatyana Mychelova, mobile + 33 676 72 0402

PRESS RELEASE
Council of Europe Spokesperson and Press Division
Ref: 477a04
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
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[email protected]
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promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common
responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 46 member states.

Azeri foreign ministry urges foreign companies to suspend activity in
Karabakh

Bilik Dunyasi news agency
4 Oct 04

BAKU

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said today that Baku
had officially addressed international organizations urging them to
suspend the activity of foreign companies on the territory of the
“Nagornyy Karabakh Republic”.

“I have sent an official document to the UN, the Council of Europe,
the European Union and the OSCE. Instructions have been issued to our
ambassadors who, in their turn, will have to inform other
international organizations of the issue,” Mammadyarov said.