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03/24/2004
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1) Armenian President Meets with Coalition Leaders
2) Turkish Official Looks to Improved Relations with Armenia
3) ANC San Gabriel Valley, Assemblymember Caldron Meet on ANC Activities
4) ARF Reviews Faction’s Activities in Parliament
5) Moscow’s Week of Parajanov

1) Armenian President Meets with Coalition Leaders

YEREVAN (Presidential Press Office)–President Robert Kocharian met with heads
of the governing coalition on Tuesday, who conveyed their impressions and
observation of recent field visits to regions of Armenia. The representatives
agreed and stressed the necessity of continued visits to various areas.
On other topics, they suggested ways to make the legislative activities of
the
National Assembly and government more productive, and emphasized the need to
strictly adhere to the 2004 schedule in reviewing draft legislation.

2) Turkish Official Looks to Improved Relations with Armenia

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–Leading the Turkish delegation at a session of the
Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Parliamentary Assembly that convened in
Yerevan on Wednesday, Salik Kapusoz of the Turkish ruling Justice and
Development party, said that the borders of Armenia and Turkey may open soon.
`The Justice and Development party has taken on the task to develop relations
with all neighbors of Turkey, and I hope that we shall soon see better times,’
he said, stressing that the opening of borders should serve as a solid
incentive to improve Turkish-Armenian relations. He also told reporters that
both nations should not cling to the past, and instead must look forward.
The BSEC Parliamentary Assembly body meeting in Yerevan is the Commission on
Culture, Education, and Social Issues. The head of Romania’s delegation and
Vice-chair of the commission Dumitru Buzatu, is presiding over the session
attended by parliamentary delegations from Turkey, Moldova, Bulgaria, Albania,
Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia. The Azeri delegation opted not to attend, citing
busy schedules. “I hope they will take part in future meetings held in
Armenia,” announced Buzatu.
The first sitting of the session took up the social, economic, and civil
rights of the disabled, with Russian representative Adam Tleuz addressing the
physical and social obstacles the disabled face.
Members of the session noted that in Armenia, rights of the disabled are
consistently violated, and that the country’s medical centers are far from
reaching international standards.
Paying special attention to the rights of disabled children and women,
participants urged BSEC governments and parliaments to advance their laws on
the disabled so that they correspond to international standards.

3) ANC San Gabriel Valley, Assemblymember Caldron Meet on ANC Activities

MONTBELLO–At the invitation of California Assemblymember Ronald S. Calderon
(D-58th Assembly District), Armenian National Committee (ANC) San Gabriel
Valley representatives held a work meeting with Calderon and his staff on
March
12, focusing on issues that concern the Armenian American constituents in the
district.
ANC representatives presented the local ANC’s activities in progress, which
include the addition of the Armenian Genocide in the Montebello School
District
curriculum; establishment of a sister city program between the city of
Montebello and Stepanakert, the capital of Mountainous Karabagh Republic; ANC
voter registration and voter outreach campaigns; and the upcoming April 23
vigil and April 24 rally at the Armenian Martyrs Monument in Montebello to
commemorate the 89th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Calderon, who is a staunch supporter of Armenian issues, provided valuable
suggestions, promising his assistance for the success of the specified
programs.

4) ARF Reviews Faction’s Activities in Parliament

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–The legislative activities of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) were reviewed during a joint meeting on Wednesday between ARF
Armenia Supreme Body members and Parliament’s ARF faction members.
The ARF faction in Parliament has proposed six new pieces of legislation and
seven amendments to existing laws, with members co-sponsoring 25 legislative
initiatives proposed by others in parliament.
Details of visits to regions of Armenia by the faction members were also
reviewed.

5) Moscow’s Week of Parajanov

MOSCOW (Armenpress)–A week dedicated to commemorate what would have been
influential Armenian filmmaker Sergey Parajanov’s 80th birthday, and to
celebrate the great film director, artist, and sculptor’s art began in Moscow
on March 23 with an exhibit of items from the Parajanov Museum, including his
films, unique art collages, posters from his films, videos about his work, and
photographs by Yuri Mechitov.
Beauty as the highest value and truth as a creative principle were the most
important components of Parajanov’s art, which gave birth to a legend that
became known to the world as Parajanov’s film.
Born and raised in a traditional Armenian family in Tbilisi, Parajanov lived
his childhood very close to the tight Armenian community. These images of
childhood were later reflected in his work “Colors of Pomegranate.”
In 1945, with the end of the Second World War, Parajanov moved to Moscow and
enrolled in the Institute of Cinematography. In 1952, he moved to Kiev,
Ukraine, to start working at Dovzhenko studios. After a number of short films
and side projects, Parajanov finally started working on his first movie, “The
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors,” which turned out to be one of the greatest
masterpieces in the history of cinematography.
In a few years, Parajanov moved to his true homeland Armenia, and began to
work at the “Armenfilm” studio, where some of his short movies such as “Hakob
Hovnatyan” were born, and where he screened his biggest masterpiece: “Color of
Pomegranate.” Though the film’s cinematography won him international
notoriety,
the movie received no attention from the Soviet authorities. After forcefully
cutting 20 minutes out of the movie and re-releasing the short version for the
Soviet audience, Parajanov said: “My masterpiece no longer exists.”
It was the “Color of Pomegranate” that sparked the chain of events in his
life. Soviet censures did not particularly appreciate the numerous religious
images portrayed in the movie. Subsequently, a number of his screenplays were
rejected and he was later imprisoned under false charges–and sent to the
Gulag, one of the most abhorrent concentration camps in Russia.
He was released after a number of years as a result of global protests by
artists. Penniless, he moved back to Georgia in 1977, only to be imprisoned
again, but this time without a trial.
His work, “The Legend of the Souram Fortress” was completed in 1986; he began
work on “Ashik Kerib” the following year. Though both films became
world-renowned masterpieces, receiving a number of awards at movie festivals,
Parajanov did not get to see them. After undergoing treatment in France for
lung cancer, he passed away in 1989, in Yerevan.

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The Congressional Record
23 March 2004

SA 2907. Mr. McCONNELL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the bill S. 1637, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to comply with the World Trade Organization rulings on the FSC/ETI
benefit in a manner that preserves jobs and production activities in
the United States, to reform and simplify the international taxation
rules of the United States, and for other purposes; which was ordered
to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of the amendment, add the following:

TITLE V–EXTENSION OF NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS TO ARMENIA

SEC. 501. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Armenia has been found to be in full compliance with
the freedom of emigration requirements under title IV of the
Trade Act of 1974.
(2) Armenia acceded to the World Trade Organization on
February 5, 2003.
(3) Since declaring its independence from the Soviet Union
in 1991, Armenia has made considerable progress in enacting
free-market reforms within a stable democratic framework.
(4) Armenia has demonstrated a strong desire to build a
friendly and cooperative relationship with the United States
and has concluded many bilateral treaties and agreements with
the United States.
(5) United States-Armenia bilateral trade for 2002 totaled
more than $134,200,000.

SEC. 502. TERMINATION OF APPLICATION OF TITLE IV OF THE TRADE
ACT OF 1974 TO ARMENIA.

(a) Presidential Determinations and Extensions of
Nondiscriminatory Treatment.–Notwithstanding any provision
of title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2431 et
seq.), the President may–
(1) determine that such title should no longer apply to
Armenia; and

[[Page S3033]]

(2) after making a determination under paragraph (1) with
respect to Armenia, proclaim the extension of
nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations
treatment) to the products of that country.
(b) Termination of Application of Title IV.–On and after
the effective date of the extension under subsection (a)(2)
of nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of Armenia,
title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 shall cease to apply to
that country.

Le Monde, France
Mercredi 24 Mars 2004

L’énigme Basmadjian

Moscou, 1989. Un homme disparaît. C’est un Français d’origine
arménienne, marchand d’art à Paris. Quinze ans plus tard, un juge
parisien et la brigade criminelle enquêtent

L’affaire débute comme un roman d’espionnage, dans l’URSS tourmentée
de l’été 1989. Garig Basmadjian, un Français de 41 ans, spécialiste
réputé de l’art arménien, séjourne à l’Hôtel Rossia, au c`ur de
Moscou. Dans cet établissement d’une austérité toute soviétique, le
KGB n’est jamais bien loin, les clients sont sous surveillance.
Garig Basmadjian ne s’en étonne sans doute pas ; il connaît bien ce
pays, ses obsessions policières. N’a-t-il pas organisé, en 1988, deux
expositions, au Musée de l’Ermitage (Leningrad, aujourd’hui
Saint-Pétersbourg) et à la galerie Tretiakov (Moscou) ? Cette fois,
il est là à l’invitation du ministère de la culture, en prévision
d’autres manifestations.

Trois Arméniens qu’il connaît de longue date sont présents dans sa
chambre, ce 29 juillet au matin, quand le téléphone sonne. “Je
descends dans dix minutes”, dit-il, en russe, à son interlocuteur.
Basmadjian prend son passeport, quitte la pièce avec ses visiteurs
arméniens. “J’en aurai pour deux à trois heures”, leur lance-t-il
dans le hall. Dehors, un homme lui fait signe. Agé d’une trentaine
d’années, il se tient devant une voiture beige, une Lada de type
Jigouli Vaz 2104 ou 2108. Le Français monte à l’avant, le chauffeur
démarre. Il est 10 heures, ce matin d’été. Garig Basmadjian ne
donnera plus jamais signe de vie.

Un juge parisien, Patrick Ramael, tente aujourd’hui de savoir ce
qu’il est devenu. La plainte pour “enlèvement et séquestration”,
déposée le 6 avril 2003 par l’épouse et le fils aîné du galeriste, a
conduit la brigade criminelle à se plonger dans ce dossier traité
jusque-là à Moscou. “Nous voulons connaître la vérité, si pénible
soit-elle”, prévient Varvara Basmadjian, la femme du marchand d’art.

Depuis 1989, celle-ci s’est très peu exprimée dans les médias. Des
années durant, elle n’a pas non plus enclenché de procédure
judiciaire en France. Laissant à sa belle-s`ur, Vartouhi, le soin de
suivre l’évolution de l’enquête russe, elle est restée en retrait
afin, assure-t-elle, de “préserver”ses trois enfants, deux garçons et
une fille. Maintenant que ceux-ci sont “en ge de comprendre”, Mme
Basmadjian relance les investigations avec le soutien d’un avocat, Me
Patrick Baudoin, et de l’Association Edouard-Kalifat, spécialisée
dans la recherche de personnes disparues en ex-URSS.

La tche s’annonce ardue, surtout après tant d’années d’immobilisme.
L’affaire est riche en zones d’ombre ; elle ne manque pas non plus
d’enjeux financiers liés au patrimoine du disparu, propriétaire
d’environ 150 `uvres, bloquées en Russie. Et puis, l’énigme renvoie à
une période trouble – le tournant des années 1980-1990 – marquée par
la fin du communisme et l’essor des réseaux mafieux, y compris dans
le “business” des `uvres d’art. Garig Basmadjian a fréquenté cette
URSS-là ; il en connaissait les pièges.

Etonnant parcours que le sien… Fils d’un ingénieur de la radio
jordanienne, il voit le jour à Jérusalem en 1947. Après avoir grandi
en Israël, il rejoint la terre de ses ancêtres, l’Arménie, alors sous
contrôle soviétique. De 1966 à 1971, il suit des études de philologie
et de journalisme à Erevan, où il fait la connaissance de sa future
épouse, Varvara, de nationalité française. Le jeune homme est
brillant, éclectique ; il écrit des poèmes, traduit des textes en
arménien et en anglais.

En 1972, le couple s’installe près de Paris. Garig Basmadjian
poursuit ses activités de critique d’art et de traducteur. “Il
voyageait beaucoup, participait à des conférences en Angleterre et
aux Etats-Unis”, raconte sa femme. Il affine aussi ses connaissances
artistiques et commence à acquérir des tableaux, en France ou à
l’étranger. En 1978, la passion devient commerce : il ouvre à Paris,
au 90, boulevard Raspail, la Galerie Gorky, vite rebaptisée Galerie
Basmadjian. Cet homme de grande culture, mécène à ses heures, devient
incontournable dans le microcosme russo-arménien. “La galerie était
un point de rencontre, assure sa femme. L’aide apportée à certains
artistes considérés comme des dissidents n’a pas empêché Garig de se
rendre en URSS.” C’est ainsi qu’en 1988 il expose sa collection à
Moscou et à Leningrad. En décembre de la même année, alors qu’un
séisme frappe l’Arménie (100 000 morts), il organise des ventes aux
enchères au profit des sinistrés.

Arrive l’été 1989. A l’approche de cet énième séjour en URSS, le
galeriste paraît préoccupé. “Un jour, confie son épouse, il m’a dit
: “Je ne devrais peut-être pas partir seul.” Cette petite phrase
m’est revenue après coup. Sur le moment, je n’avais pas fait
attention.”Le départ est programmé le 20 juillet. Divers rendez-vous
sont prévus, à Leningrad et dans la capitale. “Il devait organiser le
rapatriement par camion de quelques `uvres exposées à l’Ermitage en
1988”,explique Varvara Basmadjian. Son visa expire le 31 juillet,
date de l’avion du retour. Mais le 29 juillet au matin, devant
l’Hôtel Rossia, il monte dans une Jigouli…

Son entourage, alerté le 1er août, tente d’obtenir des informations.
Sa s`ur Vartouhi se rend à Moscou, où elle rencontre des policiers,
des responsables du ministère de la culture, le consul de France, le
procureur d’Etat. Elle séjourne même au Rossia, dans la chambre de
son frère. Les trois Arméniens présents avec lui ce matin-là, dont la
directrice d’un musée d’Erevan, semblent hors de cause. Les proches
du galeriste s’interrogent en revanche sur le rôle d’un certain Misha
R., spécialiste du marché de l’art, qui l’accompagnait souvent lors
de ses rendez-vous. Cette piste, comme beaucoup d’autres, sera
ensuite abandonnée.

Les médias locaux se passionnent pour cette affaire, présentée comme
le “premier enlèvement d’un étranger sur le sol soviétique”.
Serait-ce l’`uvre des mafias dont l’essor inquiète tant le pays ? La
photo de Basmadjian est placardée dans les commissariats, un avis de
recherche est lancé à la télévision. Sans résultat.

En moins d’un an, sa s`ur effectue cinq voyages à Moscou et un en
Arménie, mais ne sait trop à qui se fier. Un jour, les enquêteurs
suggèrent qu’il s’agit d’une “affaire mafieuse aux ramifications
internationales”. Un autre, un fonctionnaire des affaires étrangères,
lui assure que son frère était encore en vie le 12 août. Autre
élément troublant : pourquoi une personne se réclamant du ministère
de la culture a-t-elle appelé son hôtel, après la disparition, afin
de demander que la réservation de la chambre soit prolongée d’une
semaine ?

Côté français, l’heure est aussi au jeu d’ombres. A la mi-septembre
1989, Varvara Basmadjian et sa belle-s`ur reçoivent la visite de deux
hommes affirmant travailler au ministère de l’intérieur. “Ils nous
ont interrogées sur mon mari, raconte Varvara Basmadjian. Je leur ai
dit qu’il n’avait aucune activité politique. L’un d’eux, “Monsieur
Paul”, m’avait laissé un numéro. J’ai essayé de l’appeler deux fois,
mais cela ne répondait jamais. Je n’ai jamais su s’il s’agissait de
vrais policiers.”

En janvier 1990, Varvara Basmadjian se rend à son tour à Moscou. On
lui remet les effets personnels de son époux, ainsi qu’un
portrait-robot du chauffeur de la Jigouli : “30 ans, taille 1,70
m-1,75 m, de corpulence forte, visage de type européen, cheveux
chtain clair bouclés, habillé d’un pantalon beige et d’une chemise
de même couleur, large, portée au-dessus de la ceinture.”

Fin 1990, un policier et un magistrat moscovites viennent à Paris.
Les proches du marchand d’art s’étonnent de leurs questions “très
vagues” et doutent de leur volonté d’aboutir. Le 22 mars 1994, après
plus de quatre ans de démarches infructueuses, Vartouhi Basmadjian
conclura ainsi une note de synthèse : “J’ai eu des contacts avec des
détectives privés, la CIA, le KGB, la police française, des
ambassadeurs, des artistes, des collectionneurs, des ex-prisonniers,
des écrivains, des experts, des radiesthésistes, des voyants, des
prêtres… et je ne suis pas plus avancée que le jour où j’ai reçu
l’appel de Moscou m’annonçant que mon frère avait disparu.”

Deux nouvelles pistes ajoutent au mystère dans les années suivantes.
La première, révélée par l’Association Edouard-Kalifat, met en cause
le KGB. En 1993, un homme interné dans un hôpital n
psychiatrique-prison de Smolensk et présenté comme un
“opposant”ukrainien, Alexandre Budilov, réussit à transmettre à
l’ambassade des Etats-Unis une lettre où il affirme avoir vu le
Français, en août 1992, à la prison de Boutyrki. D’après lui, le KGB
aurait enlevé Basmadjian car ce dernier était soupçonné d’espionnage
économique au profit de l’Afrique du Sud. Une assertion difficile à
vérifier : Budilov est mort en juillet 1993. Un suicide,
semble-t-il.

L’autre piste, plus étayée, émane d’un avocat arménien de grand
renom, Karen Nersisian. De janvier 1998 à novembre 1999, il a
enquêté pour le compte de Vartouhi Basmadjian ; leurs relations se
sont ensuite détériorées. Me Nersisian affirme avoir recueilli de
nombreux indices et acheté des documents à l’ex-KGB. Selon lui,
Basmadjian était généreux avec les artistes, mais il se livrait aussi
au commerce – très lucratif – des ordinateurs. L’un de ses clients,
un marchand d’art réputé, l’aurait tué après une dispute. D’après Me
Nersisian, la fameuse Jigouli appartenait à un artiste russe marié à
une Française, employée à l’ambassade de France. Interrogé par Le
Monde, Me Nersisian affirme savoir où a eu lieu le meurtre et ce qui
a été fait du corps, mais refuse d’en dire davantage.

La famille Basmadjian, qui a fermé la galerie du boulevard Raspail
fin 2002, conteste l’existence d’un trafic d’ordinateurs. Elle
rejette également les soupçons – récurrents – d’espionnage. “Mon mari
n’était pas un agent, insiste Varvara Basmadjian. Peut-être a-t-il
été utilisé par des services sans même savoir qu’il l’était…”

Il reste maintenant à connaître les conclusions de l’enquête
officielle menée à Moscou depuis 1989. Etrangement, c’est auprès d’un
service français, la DST, que le juge Ramael a obtenu le document le
plus intéressant à ce propos : une note du “ministère de la sécurité
de la Fédération de Russie”, datée du 1er décembre 1993. D’après ce
texte, d’importantes vérifications auraient été effectuées : “900
relations de Basmadjian(…), 4 127 automobiles (…),134
établissements médicaux (…), 70 000 caves et greniers”…

Varvara Basmadjian assure n’avoir jamais été informée dans le détail
de ces développements. Et, pourtant, la vérité est peut-être là, dans
cette note de sept pages dont Le Monde a eu connaissance. Trois noms
sont en effet cités. Trois hommes avec lesquels son mari était
semble-t-il en relation. Il leur aurait même passé commande d’une
vingtaine de tableaux qu’il souhaitait acquérir en URSS. Une fois à
Moscou, les tractations auraient mal tourné. Deux d’entre eux
seraient directement impliqués dans la disparition.

Le premier est Alex Asmakov, alias Alex Taïm. D’après les policiers
français, ses “relations avec la mafia russe sont clairement
établies”. Seul problème : il aurait été assassiné en 1999, en
Russie ; son corps n’aurait jamais été retrouvé.

Le second suspect, qui pourrait être le chauffeur de la Jigouli, est
vivant. Il s’agit d’Alexandre Podlesnyi, alias Alex Yaari, 45 ans.
Cet ancien boxeur, réputé proche des milieux criminels sibériens, est
emprisonné au Canada pour le meurtre d’un bijoutier. Il se serait
vanté à plusieurs reprises du meurtre de Basmadjian. Le juge Ramael
veut l’entendre avant sa libération, fin 2004.

Le troisième homme, Alexandre Hoffman, 49 ans, n’aurait joué qu’un
rôle secondaire, mais son témoignage pourrait être déterminant. Il
vit aux Etats-Unis sous une nouvelle identité (Alex G.). A en croire
la note russe, il avait été interrogé, en 1991, par le FBI. A cette
occasion, il aurait indiqué que Basmadjian disposait, au KGB, de
“relations” qu’il “exploitait sans limites” pour favoriser son
commerce, plus ou moins licite, d’`uvres d’art. Le juge veut
également auditionner Hoffman.

Ainsi donc, le dossier comporte des noms, des adresses, et même un
récit de la “cavale” (Pologne, Israël, Autriche…) des suspects.
D’où ces interrogations : pourquoi les autorités russes n’ont-elles
jamais demandé l’extradition ou l’arrestation des trois hommes ? Que
savent-elles au juste de cette affaire ? “Il faut se souvenir du
contexte de 1989, rappelle Vartouhi Basmadjian. En ce temps-là, il
était impossible de disparaître sans qu’elles n’en soient informées.
De plus, Garig n’allait jamais seul à un rendez-vous. S’il l’a fait,
c’est que les gens avec lesquels il est allé étaient des amis de très
longue date ou que ce rendez-vous avait un caractère officiel.”

Selon nos informations, le dossier russe comporte en fait pas moins
de 39 tomes. Le magistrat français a enfin eu l’occasion de s’y
plonger : accompagné de deux policiers, il vient de passer une
semaine à Moscou. Quinze ans après, ce déplacement relance enfin
l’espoir de voir un jour élucidée l’énigme Basmadjian.

François Bonnet et Philippe Broussard

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Armenian-American Community of Central California
Contact: Tom Bulger
March 24, 2004
Tel: (559) 291-8215

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA BLOOD DRIVE TO HONOR MEMORY OF ARMENIAN MARTYRS

The Armenian-American Community of Central California will
commemorate the 89th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with a blood drive in
mid-April.
Friends and descendants of those who died for their faith in the
dark days of the Ottoman Empire will give the gift of life in the Third Annual
Armenian Martyrs’ Day Blood Drive on Sunday, April 18.
The drive will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the campus of
Fresno’s First Armenian Presbyterian Church, 430 South First Street, midway
between historic Huntington Boulevard and the Kings Canyon Promenade.
The event is co-sponsored by the Central California Blood Center
and the Board of Deacons at FAPC, California’s oldest Armenian religious
institution. Prospective donors are warmly invited to participate and should call
(559) 291-8215 to register in advance and/or obtain information.
The blood donation process (registration, screening, collection,
and refreshments) takes about one hour to complete. Donors must be in good
general health, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be at least 17 years old.
Senior citizens are especially encouraged to donate, as there is no upper age
limit.
Donors should eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water within
four hours prior to their donation. Donors can give blood every eight weeks,
the time necessary for the body to completely replace a pint of blood. A
Social Security Number is required for registration and first-time donors must
present photo identification upon registration.
The Central California Blood Center has been a part of the San
Joaquin Valley for 50 years. The Center is responsible for drawing and
distributing blood and blood components in Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Tulare, and Kings
Counties. The non-profit Center serves 30 hospitals and a population base of
more than 1.5 million people in the five-county area. The Blood Center must
collect more than 5,000 units every month to meet the medical needs of the
Central Valley.
Chartered by 40 immigrants on July 25, 1897, First Armenian
Presbyterian Church grew dramatically in the early decades of the 20th Century as
tens of thousands Armenians fled from ethnic cleansing in their ancestral
homeland and settled in the heartland of the Golden State. The congregation is a
member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Armenian Evangelical Union
of North America.
Dean Eller is the Chief Executive Officer of the Central
California Blood Center. Reverend Mgrdich Melkonian is the Senior Pastor of FAPC and
Thomas Bulger is Chair of the Board of Deacons.
-30-

Posted by Caucasus Links
41, Barnov Street,
Tbilisi

contact person Lasha Darsalia
[email protected]; tel +995 32 292399

The British non governmental organisation LINKS has called on politicians in
both Armenia and Azerbaijan to stop using “megaphone diplomacy” and to
engage more actively in a dialogue to resolve the Karabakh problem. The call
was made in a live interview on Armenian private TV Channel Kentron with
LINKS Executive Director Dennis Sammut.

The following is the full transcript of the interview

Live Interview on ‘Urvagits’ programme on Kentron Television, Armenia
with Dennis Sammut, Executive Director of LINKS
Thursday 18th March 2004, 21.30

Q. Mr Sammut, one of the objectives of your organisation is to contribute
to the settlement of the Karabakh issue. A range of international
organisations including the Minsk Group of the OSCE has not achieved any
considerable successes. What are you relying on in your mission?

DS : Well I would like to say first of all that we are not trying to replace
the work the Minsk Group is doing. The Minsk Group is the framework the
international community has chosen to try to settle the Karabakh conflict.
The Minsk Group is a framework of states within the framework of the
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. What LINKS is doing,
and in this we are also working with other non governmental organisations,
is to try and support the work of the Minsk Group by opening up the debate
with wider society.
Because we don’t represent governments we have a little bit more flexibility
in what we say and we can be a little more outspoken in with what we say.
Perhaps the language we use is a little more understandable by the people in
general as well.

Q. As I understand one of the objectives of your organisation is to expand
dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

DS : Well it is, but let me explain. There is a process that has been going
on for some years now of negotiations between the two presidents, assisted
sometimes by other officials. This process has not succeeded yet. There
have been some occasions were some progress was registered but somehow we go
back to square one because society in both countries is not ready to
understand or accept what is being proposed.
We think that the process must be opened up in a way that what the
presidents are discussing and are doing has to be underpinned by a wider
debate, first of all amongst the political community in both countries, and
secondly amongst the wider public in both countries. We feel it is
important that the quality of the discussion is improved. When people don’t
know what to say they usually just go for slogans because they are on safe
ground.

Q. Mr Sammut, do you mean political forces in both Armenia and Azerbaijan
when you are speaking about slogans?

DS : Political forces in both Armenia and Azerbaijan use slogans, quite a
lot of slogans. What we have in this situation, most of the time but not
always, is what I call megaphone diplomacy. So we don’t really have
diplomacy of negotiations or diplomacy of trying to actually work out
solutions to the problem. We have people shouting slogans from across the
frontier from one country to another. This is not helpful because by the
time the message reaches the other side, it gets distorted and it gets
misunderstood. I have seen this happen so many times, on so many issues and
I have appealed to my friends here and to my friends in Baku to ‘calm down’
and don’t use this method because it is not useful for you, for your
countries or for anybody.

Q. If I am not mistaken you were recently in Baku, is that so?

DS : Yes that is right.

Q. Mr Sammut, you said that there needs to be positive progress in the
dialogue between the two parties. However the recent murder of the Armenian
officer in Hungary and afterwards the stance of officials in Baku and also
the statements on behalf of the Ombudsman of Baku, do not inspire much
confidence in a process of dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Being
in Baku, did you see the forces did you see the parties that are really
striving for positive development of the dialogue between the two parties?

DS : I was in Baku before the tragic events in Budapest, but I can quite
understand what happened there, as I can quite understand what happened
here. But let me state first of all what impressions I got, and this was
before Budapest. There is increasing debate in Azerbaijan about the
Karabakh problem. The amount of time being spent talking about this issues
is much more than it was last year or the year before. And of course there
are different trends. There is one trend that is saying ‘we must engage in
a serious discussion, we must engage in a proper dialogue with the Armenian
side to try to resolve this problem’, and there is another trend saying that
‘this is our national humiliation and we have to somehow solve it and we
will have to use all methods to solve it’.

Q. Which trend is the dominant trend in Baku?

DS : Well it is difficult to say because as with everything else and as with
every other country, sometimes it is one trend that is more dominant, and
sometimes it is the other. I spent time speaking to both of these groups of
people because I think it is very important that we talk to both. And these
two kinds of stereotypes also exist in Armenia by the way, and this is not a
unique feature of Azerbaijan. We talk with both trends, both here and
there. What happened in Budapest was a shock. It was a shock for you here.
And frankly speaking, regardless of what we hear, it was a shock for people
in Baku as well: they were not expecting this to happen. And is was
certainly a shock for people like myself and other people in the
international community that have been engaged in this process of dialogue
because obviously we understood immediately that an incident like that, a
tragedy like that, will have implications. And there is always a
spontaneous reaction when something happens that people are not prepared
for. The spontaneous reaction is the kind of reaction where people have not
thought about the consequences and so a lot of things are said that are not
sensible. Afterwards, when the people realise what they have said they
realise that they should not have been so emotional and so impulsive in what
they were saying. I think from this tragedy, from the loss of the life of
this young Armenian, frankly speaking two lives were lost because this young
Azeri is now going to spend most of his time in a jail if he is convicted of
this murder. So from this tragic situation two lives were lost, one is dead
and one will have to pay for his crime. From this tragedy we must draw
conclusions, we must draw lessons and we must be more determined. And when
I say ‘we’, and since I am now engaged in this process I feel it is our
responsibility also. So ‘we’, being the Armenians and the Azeris and the
international community, must make a bigger effort to move the process
forward.

Q. Mr Sammut, you said that there needs to be progress in the dialogue
inside Armenia. Let me remind you that some twenty days ago, the president
of Armenia said during a meeting with students that Armenia will not concede
Karabakh to Azerbaijan. Plus the representatives of culture, literature and
arts applied to the president to state that they will not concede Karabakh
to Azerbaijan and that it should be made more firmly part of Armenia. Also
in this regard there is no discrepancy of ideas between the opposition and
the authorities of Armenia. So they are supporting the idea that we should
not concede Karabakh. In light of these circumstances can you see the
development of the dialogue in Armenia?

DS : Well I would never talk in terms of ‘conceding’, this is not the
language I prefer to use. We have a situation, a situation which is not
really acceptable to anybody because people are suffering on all sides in
different ways. From this situation we must move forward to find a
solution, a solution that would be a peaceful solution, and a solution that
would be achieved not in fifty years time but in a manageable short period
of time. But also a solution that has to have wide support amongst all the
interested parties: amongst Armenians and Azerbaijanis, amongst the people
of Karabakh who are in Karabakh and who are Armenians and people of Karabakh
who had to leave Karabakh because they were Azerbaijani. There has to be
consensus because an imposed solution will not work. Now, is this easy? Of
course it is not easy. Is it impossible? Of course it is not impossible.

Q. Why?

DS : Well it is possible because it is a problem that has defined parameters
and those defined parameters can somehow be altered in a way that would
become acceptable to everybody. It will take time, and it will take
concessions on everybody’s side. Nobody will be able to say ‘I have won all
the arguments and I have won all the issues that I am interested in’. It
has to be based on concessions and it has to be based on a vision for the
future and not a vision of the past. The past we have to look at and learn
lessons from, but we must not be slaves of the past.
I want to take up your point regarding Armenian political forces and how
they look at Karabakh. I know that the National Assembly in 2001 adopted a
resolution on the Karabakh issue. Recently they revisited it. They did not
change it, they simply restated it. I would have preferred that political
forces should have engaged in a new discussion because three years have
passed, things have changed. Many changes are taking place in the world and
in the region and we need to be sure that what is being said still applies
to the situation today.

Q. But not for our political forces, because they restate their position,
that is there will be no concessions.

DS : My suggestion is that there should not be a position so fixed that it
can never be changed. This is not how politics is done. Now, it is
important and positive in my view that there is a consensus in Armenia on
these issues. It is better than if people have completely different
positions and one is never sure where they are. But I would like to suggest
that we turn this argument a bit up side down. Instead of going for the
most radical position and say ‘OK, let this be the least common denominator’
, lets go for the most moderate position and say ‘let this be the least
common denominator’. It is impossible for the political forces to tie the
hands of the government and the president on this issue in a way that
negotiations become futile. If there is no space for negotiations, why go
and discuss if there is no scope? And I want to emphasise that I am not the
kind of person who says ‘these are people with radical views we don’t
respect them, we don’t dialogue with them’. That is not the approach at
all. People with radical views have radical views because they believe in
them very strongly. We have to understand why they believe in them and we
have to persuade them that there are perhaps alternative ways of approaching
a subject.

Q. Mr Sammut you said we have to change the parameters of the Karabakh
conflict. This is a very interesting idea. What do you understand by this?
Can you open the brackets?

DS : Well I will open them a little bit. I think the Karabakh issue has
different dimensions to it. It is not a single issue. It is an issue that
has different elements to it. If the debate was only on a piece of land and
perhaps the natural resources that exist on that piece of land then one type
of solution can be envisaged. There are many examples in the world of
disputes between countries over pieces of land, territory, continental
shelves in the sea, islands and other such situations where people have
interests because of either natural resources, or strategic interests or
whatever. If Karabakh was only in this context, it would be an easily
solvable problem.

Q. In which context is it now?

DS : Well, not only now. We have a different situation because the issue of
Karabakh is a territorial issue; it is an issue that is connected with the
population that lives in Karabakh, and that used to live in Karabakh. It is
connected with the issue of how sustainable Karabakh itself is if one only
looks at it in the agreed territory or border that is recognised as being
Karabakh. Is it sustainable without other territories that are attached to
it? I mean it is a different layered subject; it is not simply one issue.
This is what makes it much more complicated.

Q. I know that during your stay in Armenia you have dealt with our
politicians, media and other representatives of society. Can you summarize
whether you think we are ready for peace? Does Armenia want peace?

DS : Does Armenia want peace? I think yes, Armenia wants peace. There is
perhaps a little bit of fear of peace and there is a confusion in the minds
of people between peace and defeatism. Peace is not defeatism. From a good
peace, everybody will win and everybody can celebrate victory, but only if
it is a good peace. I think that society is somehow tied down to a number
of positions that were perhaps useful in some period but are becoming less
and less useful these days when the world is changing so fast, and when the
South Caucasus is changing so fast. I remain optimistic.

Cyprus MPs urge AGBU to reconsider Melkonian closure

The Financial Mirror – Nicosia
March 24, 2004

Members of the House of Representatives Education Committee urged the
Armenian General Benevolent Union Tuesday to reconsider its plans to
close the Melkonian school in June 2005 and asked that it remain open
until all the present students graduate.

Deputies from all parties, headed by Committee Chairman Prodromos
Prodromou, grilled the AGBU’s global representative, Gordon Anderson,
over plans to close the school.

He stated firmly that the House considers the Melkonian a place of
Armenian education and a part of the cultural and national heritage of
Cyprus.

The Committee Chairman issued a stern warning to the AGBU to delay a
final decision and consider resuming negotiatiosn with the Cyprus
community and others, such as the local alumni association, over the
school’s future.

Prodormou said that in the worst case, all presently enrolled students
should be allowed to complete their education, stating that otherwise
the Cyprus parliament would view the unilateral decision as a hostile
act.

Prodromou also asked the AGBU to inform the House of its immediate
plans on the future of the school, in response to explanations given
by Anderson, claiming that the `AGBU does not intend to sell the
buildings, and instead is considering alternative options.’

DISY MP Ionas Nicolaou and fellow lawmaker Nicos Tornaritis were not
impressed by the explanation given, reminding the AGBU representative
that the two main buildings were in the process of being declared
national heritage buildings, which in any event does not allow their
destruction.

`This is outrageous,’ Tornaritis said, raising his voice to the AGBU
delegates.

Nicolaou was highly critical of the strong-arm tactics used by the
AGBU to quash any opposition to the closure plan, by preventing local
Board members from expressing their dissatisfaction over the plans.

MPs were unimpressed by Anderson’s explanations that the AGBU is
considering turning the Melkonian either into a day-school, or enter
into partnership with another school or establish an Armenian
department within another school.

`I call on you (AGBU) to immediately inform the House of your plans,
since at stake is the future education of 200 students and we don’t
wish to see this uncertain situation continuing any longer,’ said
Committee Chairman Prodromou.

A scathing attack unleashed by Anderson against Armenian
Representative, Bedros Kalaydjian who had brought the issue before the
Committee also backfired after many MPs voiced their displeasure.

`I call on you to show respect,’ Kalaydjian told Anderson when the
AGBU’s American official attempted to distort facts presented by Nareg
Elementary Schools board Chairman, Dr. Vahak Atamyan, who had earlier
testified that most of this year’s graduating class of 22 pupils had
expressed an interest to enroll at the Melkonian.

Masis Der Parthogh, representing the interests of the Cyprus Alumni
and the Parents Coordinating Committee informed deputies regarding the
AGBU’s reluctance to enter into a dialogue with the worldwide
Melkonian Alumni towards finding an acceptable solution, adding that
the network of alumni associations is prepared to take charge of the
school.

He asked the House to declare the Melkonian a national heritage
foundation following the decision by the EU to recognise the Armenian
language as one of the 54 languages of the Union, which Cyprus will
join on May 1, and asked the MPs to call on the Ministry of Education
to intervene in the whole affair.

Der Parthogh’s call for the House to back a proposal submitted by the
Green party to consider altering the current zoning of all the
school’s lands, from commercial to green, was received warmly.

AKEL and DIKO MPs promised that they would seriously consider
submiting a draft bill changing the zoning status of the Melkonian
property, in the event that the AGBU did not come back with fresh
proposals to find an acceptable solution.

The Cyprus Alumni has repeatedly warned that the real motive behind
AGBU’s decision to close the Melkonian is to sell the land and whisk
up to CYP 40 mln out of the country for use for unspecified purposes.

“YERKIR”, UNION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR REPATRIATION AND
SETTLEMENT
Bagramyan ave., ap. 47/A, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel. +(374 1) 26 28 75
Web:
E-mail: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
March, 19, 2004, Yerevan, Armenia
Contact: Robert Tatoyan, [email protected]

“YERKIR”, UNION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR REPATRIATION AND
SETTLEMENT REPORTS ON RESULTS OF ITS FIRST FULL YEAR OF ACTIVITY

“Yerkir”, Union of Non-Governmental Organizations for Repatriation and
Settlement was founded in November, 2002. By unifying the efforts of various
organizations from the R.A. (Republic of Armenia), MKR (Mountainous Karabagh
Republic) and the Armenian Diaspora, the organization engaged in the social,
economic and cultural development of border villages of RA and MKR. The
organization has chapters in USA, Europe and Canada and an upcoming chapter
in the Middle East.
“Yerkir”‘s main goals are:
1. Assist in the re-population and settlement of the border regions of
RA and MKR.
2. Assist in the social, economic and cultural development of the
border regions of RA and MKR.
3. Assist in the research and protection of the historical and cultural
heritage of the border regions of RA and MKR.

“Yerkir” works on improving the socio-economic and cultural problems of
post-war restored villages, as well as the reestablishment of the historic
Armenian settlements of the region.
In 2003, during its first year of existence, “Yerkir” implemented the
following
projects:
1. Construction and furnishing of a school in the village of Araler,
Hadrout Region, MKR (sponsor- Charles Ghazerian of France).
2. Construction and furnishing of the “Hakop Poyajian Bokhboj”
kindergarten in memory of Hakob Poyadjian, in the village of Arakiul,
Hadrout Region, MKR (sponsor- the Poyajian family of Los Angeles, USA).
3. Construction and furnishing of the Madteos Tsaretsi school in the
village of Tsar, Nor Shahumian Region, MKR (sponsors- A group of Los Angeles
USA Armenians).

The following “Yerkir” projects are currently in progress:
1. Construction and furnishing, including medical equipment, of a
hospital, in the village Araler, Hadrout Region, MKR (sponsor- “Hayrenik”
Union of Los Angeles, USA).
2. Construction of 5 (five) houses, a medical center, as well as the
water distribution system, in the village of Norashen, Hadrout Region, MKR
(sponsor- AGBU France).
3. Construction of 8 (eight) houses, a water distribution system as
well as the establishment of small and medium households engaged in domestic
animal farming activity in the village of Saralanch, Hadrout Region, MKR
(sponsor- France Karabagh).
4. Construction of 8 (eight) houses, construction and furnishing of a
school as well as construction and furnishing of a medical center and a
community-youth
center, in the village of Haykavan, Hadrout Region, MKR
(sponsors-Armenian American Nurse’s Association, the Anatolian family of Los
Angeles, a group of Los Angeles Armenians, Mr & Mrs. Apo and Rosine
Saghdejian of Fresno, Mr. and Mrs. William So and Astghik Dadrian of Newport
Beach, California, Armenian American Council on Aging).
5. Remodeling and furnishing of the school building, construction of a
Medical & Community-Youth dual building complex, in the village of Tsamdzor,
Hadrout Region, MKR (sponsor, “Armenia” Foundation of Geneva, Switzerland).
6. Procurement and installation of temporary mobile homes in the
village of Ijevanatun, Hadrout Region, MKR (sponsor- “Monte Melkonian”
Fund).
7. Remodeling and furnishing of the school building in the village of
Arakiul, Hadrout Region, MKR, (sponsor – the Poyajian family of Los
Angeles). Construction of the medical & agricultural development center in
the village of Arakiul, Hadrout Region, MKR (sponsor-France Karabagh).
8. Construction and furnishing of a kindergarten in the village of
Talish,
Martakert Region, MKR (sponsor, “D.A. Connextion”, France).
9. Founding of the entire village of Knaravan, Nor Shahumian Region,
MKR. The
work includes construction of 18 (eighteen) single family houses,
construction and furnishing of a school, construction and furnishing of a
medical-community-youth center dual-building complex and the implementation
of agricultural development projects. The project is sponsored by the
Harutyunian family of New Jersey, USA.
10. Construction and furnishing of a kindergarten in the village of
Yeghegnout, Nor Shahumian Region, MKR (sponsor – ARF Patanekan of Canada).
11. Remodeling and furnishing of the kindergarten-Dance & Music school
building complex in the village of Chinari, Tavoush Region, RA (sponsor-
Alain Krakirian of Los Angeles, USA).
12. Reconstruction and furnishing of the school in village of Aregouni,
Gegharkounik Region, RA (sponsor- United Armenian Students of Los Angeles,
USA).

“Yerkir”s total investment in 2003 was US $215,000.00 or 173,000 Euro. 2003
was also a year of organizational growth for “Yerkir”. The organization
firmly established itself by opening offices in Yerevan, Stepanakert and
Vadenis. With contracts totaling more than US $400,000.00, in 2004, “Yerkir”
UNGO has ambitious expansion plans.
Expansion will be directed in different geographic regions of RA and MKR:
1. Border communities of the Syunik, Tavoush and
Gegharkounik Regions.
2. Border communities of the Hadrout, Martakert,
Martouni and Nor Shahumian Regions.

During 2003, “Yerkir” submitted many project portfolios to various
organizations and individuals. The submitted projects were focused on
socially and demographically developing the more than 30 border rural
communities located in the above mentioned target regions.
Today, one of “Yerkir’s primary goals is to encourage repatriation
from Russia and other CIS countries. Priority is being given to
natives who were forcefully evicted from their communities and many of whom
would return to their hometowns, given favorable living conditions.

For further information on “Yerkir”‘s current and upcoming projects, visit

or “Yerkir USA”‘s homepage at
You will also find “Yerkir”‘s detailed
2003 financial statement on the organization’s website.

IT as a tool for Armenian Tourism Industry

03/22/2004

Tourism was declared a priority in Armenia in 2001 when the country was
celebrating the 1,700 anniversary of its proclaiming Christianity as a state
religion. In the following years the number of foreign visitors to Armenia
grew by 92%. In January 2001 the US and Armenian governments set up the
Armenian Tourism Development Agency (ATDA). In September 2001 sponsored by
the International Executive Service Corps, ATDA opened “ARMENIANInformation”
the first information center in the South Caucasus. Armenia possesses vast
cultural and historical treasures but they can hardly make the country a
tourist attraction unless given an appropriate information frame. Experts
say that to become a developed tourist country Armenia needs a strong
information backing. It’s here that Armenia’s second priority, information
technologies, come in helpful. ARMINFO’s correspondent has asked ATDA Deputy
Executive Director Angela Sax to specify how Information Technologies are
used in tourism.

AI: Could you please tell us about ATDA?

A.S.: Our key objective is to present Armenia abroad and to shape its image
of a developed tourist country. We work in three directions: first, to get
involved and to involve other tourism companies in international
exhibitions; second, to actively cooperate with foreign journalists and tour
operators; and third, to arrange various events, like the Kenats festival,
and to ensure their broad coverage in the foreign mass media. The number of
tourists visiting Armenia has doubled in the last three years. I am not
saying that this is our exclusive accomplishment but we have quite a big
share in it.

AI: What do you think about the role of IT in the development of tourism?

A.S.: Information Technologies are simply indispensable for Armenia, a
country almost unknown by the world, I mean on the tourism side. Internet
has long become a part of lifestyle abroad. People even grasp the
information easier when it is presented electronically. That’s why
internet-promotion is so important for shaping the country’s image.

Quite recently we opened a web-site complying with all the modern standards.
Of course, we had some on-line based information before but it was rather
scanty. The development of the new web-portal was
sponsored by USAID and with technical assistance by International Executive
Service Corps (IESC) and TIB, Armenian software development company.

The portal presents Armenia’s sights, cultural and historical values,
national parks, art galleries. All this content will make tours
unforgettable. The site has merged modern “high tech” interface with “high
art” aesthetics, utilizing both ancient and modern Armenian motives. From
interactive maps of cultural landmarks to a comprehensive and easily
accessible database of tour agents, hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and
so much more, the ATDA portal has become the web’s one-stop, on-line,
Armenian tourism venue. Much like the ATDA’s now famous ARMENIAInformation
visitor’s information center, at 3 Nalbandyan Street in the heart of
Yerevan, the new ATDA web-portal is a virtual, full service concierge
facility and an expansive compendium of useful information and resources –
whether that be for travelers and tourists or history lovers and the arts
literati. Sections are thoughtfully organized with easy access navigation
bars; graphics and photos are vibrant and compelling; maps are easy to read
and truly interactive, providing details on any given point in Armenia with
the click of a mouse. Background information and helpful travel hints are
available at every turn; shopping and recreation sites are explored side by
side with cultural centers, museums, concert halls and art galleries;
Armenia’s vast array of architectural monuments and sacred sites are finally
presented in such a way that travel planning is almost as fun as the actual
visit. The site also provides a thorough and constantly updated calendar of
weekly events, available either online or via e-mail subscription. With this
new site, the ATDA has really given both the interested traveler and the
tourism industry professional, no matter their point of origin, a place on
the web to fulfill, as well as provide for every type of Armenian tourism
and travel need.

Today we enjoy wide contacts abroad established mainly through international
exhibitions. The first question we are always asked is whether we have a
web-site. Quite natural as in five minutes we cannot tell everything about
ATDA and Armenia while those concerned want to know the most of the country
they are going to visit. Nowadays, Information Technologies are the most
effective and the cheapest way to disseminate information and to keep in
touch with people.

AI: What achievements have been made in Armenian tourism in the last years?

A.S.: We have already founded an association for coordinating tourist camps
all over Armenia. This is an opportunity for tourists not only to leave
Yerevan for the country-side but also to stay, shop and buy services outside
the capital city and thereby to boost the economic development of the
regions. Foreign tourists enjoy comfort and road restoration project by the
Lincy Foundation came in quite handy. One of our greatest accomplishments is
the recent amendment of article 34 of the law On VAT exempting from VAT home
tourism as well as the services provided by Armenian travel agencies abroad.
This change will make it cheaper for foreigners to come to Armenia. We hope
these changes will cover the hotel business as well.

AI: What can you say about the work of the local travel agencies?

A.S.: All our tour operators are professionals but some of them still keep
to the methods of the Soviet times when the key emphasis was laid on
historical and cultural values (pageant and Christian cathedrals). But after
visiting two-three churches a tourist begins to lose his/her interest in the
country. And so we need new approaches and technologies – ethnic tourism and
adventure tourism.

AI: Are there any projects to develop the so called “extreme” tourism in
Armenia?

A.S.: The country has all the natural conditions for developing the extreme
tourism. But this type of business needs an appropriate infrastructure –
hotels, restaurants, services – and this all needs considerable investment.
The construction of one ski route is not a way out of the situation. Here we
can only advise. The solution is to invest. There are many businessmen who
are ready to invest money in Armenia. Why not redirect this funding to
developing extreme tourism?

AI: Drawing parallels between the two Armenian priorities, IT and Tourism,
what can you say about the attention that the Government pays to these
fields?

A.S.: I would not separate these sectors as they complement each other. Both
of them have substantial problems with infrastructure which though very
slowly but are being solved.

———-

Note: The web site was designed and developed by
TIB company on OpenSource technologies which provide robust services, stable
work and security. The system makes it possible for the administrator to
manage the content of the site quickly and easily. Few interactive sections
like Interactive Map of Armenia, Airline Map, and Virtual Tour are created
by joint use of Macromedia Flash, PHP and MySQL database server. The web
site has a search engine, which makes it possible to make a search within
the site as well as from Travel Agencies/Tour Operators’ web sites and other
Armenian tourism related resources. Developer company (TIB) also took care
about the mirror page which is located in the USA and automatically detects
the closest server to redirect users making the view of the web site as fast
as possible independent from the user’s location. The website was developed
in UNIX family OS (FreeBSD, Linux, etc.) using web server Apache 1.x and
higher. Dynamic pages were scripted in PHP with MySQL database back-end.
XHTML (also DHTML) was used as a markup language.

By Viacheslav Khachatryan, ARMINFO News Agency
In cooperation with Siliconarmenia.com
© SiliconArmenia 2001 – 2004

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
March 22 2004

World: Byzantine Treasures In New York Reveal The Power Of Faith And
A Mingling Of Cultures
By Nikola Krastev

A landmark exhibition featuring three centuries of Byzantine culture
opens tomorrow at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Seven
years of research, negotiations, and collaboration have brought
together 377 artifacts from 27 countries — among them Russia,
Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro, Romania, Macedonia, Egypt, Greece,
and Turkey. Many of the masterpieces are borrowed from churches and
monasteries, and have never been exhibited before.

New York, 22 March 2004 (RFE/RL) — The “Byzantium: Faith and Power”
exhibit covers the period when Constantinople resumed its role as a
cultural and political center of the Eastern Roman Empire until 1557.

That was the year when the German scholar Hieronymus Wolf coined the
term “Byzantium” to identify the state that a century earlier had
been conquered by the Ottoman Turks (in 1453).

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has already held two large-scale
exhibitions covering the art of earlier periods of the Byzantine
Empire.

But museum director Philippe de Montebello says that the current show
is broader in its scope and significance.

“Many of us could not imagine that, even under the normal
circumstances, we would be able to bring together the far vaster
canvas of the three centuries [that followed the Fourth Crusade of
Constantinople in 1204]. And as we approached the period of
incredibly difficult geopolitical problems, one would have thought
that projects such as this would simply peter out and disappear,” de
Montebello said.

The prevailing theme of the exhibit involves Orthodox Christian
iconography, but the show also includes frescoes, textiles,
liturgical objects, royal stamps, coins, and manuscripts.

The exhibition examines the significance of Byzantine culture for the
Latin West — especially its importance in the development of the
Renaissance — as well as for the world of Islam.

Helen Evans, the exhibit’s curator, says the popular perception of
late Byzantium is as a fatalistic and strictly religious cultural
domain because of the impending conquest of the Ottoman Turks.

But she says the new exhibit proves the contrary, with works of
stirring optimism that also demonstrate how Byzantine culture
influenced the Orthodox Christian states in medieval Europe.

“I hope this exhibition will make people understand the optimism with
which the [Byzantine] empire regained its capital in 1261, the
cultural exuberance that went with that optimism, and that we, who
stand at the other end of the history of the state, will recognize
that political fates do not necessarily correspond with cultural
ones,” Evans said.

De Montebello says his museum has well-established exchange programs
with world-class cultural institutions in Western Europe, and that in
the last decade there has been a sharp increase in collaboration with
a number of museums in Central and Eastern Europe as well.

“Many of these countries — with the exception of very few in Western
Europe and the lenders from the United States — [were] forming part
of the later Byzantine Empire, or — and this is why it accounts for
the breadth of [the show] — the rival states that also embraced the
art and culture of Byzantium later on,” de Montebello said.

Overall, says curator Evans, there was a positive response from most
of the institutions asked to contribute works of art to the
Metropolitan exhibit.

Some countries, however, did not participate — notably, Armenia.
Evans said she was attempting to bring into the exhibit works of art
that will show the greatness of the Kingdom of Cilician Armenia
(10th–14th century) and its ambition to be a new Byzantium, with its
control over the trade routes, and its wealth and power.

“I’ve had just as much irritation with institutions in England,
France, and Germany as I’ve ever had in Russia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and
Greece. It’s individual institutions and individual people that, at
my level of dealing, create the problems. And the problems are often
quite justified and sometimes they are just personalities. The worst
one this time was not in Russia,” Evans said.

Evans said issues sometimes arose over borrowing works that are still
actively venerated religious objects. The Metropolitan had to
convince the clergy and the lending state that it will be able to
properly take care of them.

Forty-three works from the St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Monastery in
Sinai, Egypt, are included in the Metropolitan exhibit. Thirty of
them have never before left the monastery grounds. Situated on the
Sinai Peninsula, which connects Africa and Asia, the monastery has
received an extraordinary mixture of pilgrims from Byzantium and
neighboring states, Western Europe, and Islamic lands.

The popular perception of late Byzantium is as a fatalistic and
strictly religious cultural domain because of the impending conquest
of the Ottoman Turks.The late Byzantine period witnessed extensive
contacts between the complex worlds of Byzantium and Islam. Cultural
interactions occurred at various levels of society, especially among
the elite, merchants, and the military. Christian artists in the
conquered lands combined decorative trends from their Islamic milieus
with Byzantine traditions.

Muslim artists were inspired by Christian art as well. The cultural
influence of Byzantium did not wane over the years even as its
political power weakened. Byzantine goods and art were much sought
after by Muslim Seljuk and other courts. Rulers of Seljuk Rum and
later Ottoman sultans adopted Byzantine traditions and monuments.

Evans says Byzantine art was also a source of inspiration and
influence for some of the greatest artists of the 20th century.

“A number of people, when this art was beginning to be studied at the
beginning of the 20th century, thought of it as a great source for
modern and contemporary art. And there are people who have already
gone through the show and seen it in terms of Gustav Klimt and
[Pablo] Picasso and other figures. It was very much part of the type
of works of art that were being considered at the turn of the 20th
century,” Evans said.

Among works exhibited are The Gospel Book (1350) held in the National
Library of Russia, St. Petersburg; the Reveted Icon with the Virgin
Hodegetria (late 13th century), held in the State Tretyakov Gallery
in Moscow; the Gold Seal of Tsar Constantine Asen (1268), held in the
Archeology Museum in Sofia; Queen Theodora’s Ring (before 1322), held
in the National Museum, Belgrade; and the Shrine of King Stefan Uros
the Third Decanski (1343), held in the Decani Monastery, Kosovo.

The exhibit continues through 4 July. The Metropolitan is also
running an extensive cultural program focused on late Byzantium that
will include symposiums, concerts, film screenings, as well as
community and workplace programs in New York City and New York State.

Items from the exhibit can be seen at:

Balkanalysis.com, United States
March 22 2004

Turkey: Turkey Repudiates Israel, Rules Out Sending Troops to Georgia

by C Deliso

In a statement having somewhat ambivalent implications, Turkey has
repudiated long-standing ally Israel for its assassination of Hamas
spiritual leader Sheik Yassin.

A dawn helicopter assault on Monday morning targeted the paraplegic,
wheelchair-bound Yassin as he was leaving a Gaza mosque. Six others
were killed and 17 wounded.

While the rest of the world harshly criticized Israel, both for its
policy of targeted assassinations and for the inflammatory impact the
killing will have, the US was merely `troubled’ by the event and
reminded that Hamas was after all a terrorist organization.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan condemned the attack as contrary to
international law and harmful for the Middle East peace process.
Ominously for Israel, Hamas warned that Israeli leader Ariel Sharon
through the assassination had `…opened the gates of hell and nothing
will stop us from cutting off his head.’ Yet they didn’t stop with
threatening Israel. Now the oversized client state whose foreign
policy is increasingly inseparable from the Israeli one, America, has
also been served notice:

“…the Zionists didn’t carry out their operation without getting the
consent of the terrorist American administration and it (the United
States) must take responsibility for this crime,’ Hamas said in a
statement. `All the Muslims of the world will be honored to join in
on the retaliation for this crime.”

In typically flamboyant style, Sharon personally congratulated the
assassins. In a grandiose comment that could have just as well been
made by George Bush, Dick Cheney or Paul Wolfowitz, Sharon said,
`…the war against terror has not ended and will continue day after
day, everywhere.’

Most countries don’t find such black-and-white stances prudent.
Turkey, for example, is a Muslim country which shares borders with
Iran, Iraq and Syria. Yet it is also a secular state, with a
developed Western consumer society, and is actively seeking
membership in the EU. The sometimes uneasy balancing act between the
country’s twin orientations has been exacerbated by the war with Iraq
and now, by the increasingly belligerent actions of traditional ally
Israel.

According to Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül, Monday’s
assassination will increase the risk of retributive terrorism:

`…we consider the attack which Israel has launched this morning very
dangerous… I am very concerned about this issue. Many innocent
civilians and children are also killed in such incidents. We also
condemn the suicide attacks. We continue to condemn such attacks.’

Gül’s lament was made especially bitter by the revelation that Turkey
had warned `on a number of occasions’ that Yassin would be targeted,
`adding that Ankara had always viewed such an action as a threat to
stability’:

`…because of this, we have said everybody should be more cautious and
should avoid actions that will aggravate incidents… but, I sadly see
that the attack which is launched today has become a very dangerous
event.’

It’s not often that Turkey criticizes Israel so harshly. They are in
some ways natural allies. They have common enemies, common buffer
states, formidable militaries and vast importance for the US. Not
coincidentally, neocons like Richard Perle played a large part in
bringing the leaders and foreign lobbies of the two countries
together in the 1980’s and 90’s. The victory was confirmed in 1996
when the two countries signed an agreement for `…reciprocal naval
visits, military academy exchanges and the use of each other’s air
space. Later that year a defense industry collaboration deal was
established which provided for the transfer of technologies and
technical collaboration.’

Turkey, which has already suffered coordinated terrorist attacks last
fall, is keen to avoid provocations that could cause repeats. The
relationship with Israel has had its rocky moments in the past, and
the Yassin assassination may presage another one.

Nevertheless, the two states have stepped up similar cooperation in
recent months. One complex deal looks especially likely to increase
Turkey’s strategic regional importance. The deal would see Turkey
send its outdated military hardware to its ethnic ally to the east,
replacing it with new Israeli equipment. This is sure to cause
concerns for another neighbor, Armenia, which has a feud of long
standing with Azerbaijan concerning the contested province of Nagorno
Karabakh.

A recent report claimed that in the deal `…Israel would supply
components and technology for the assembly of weapons platforms in
Turkey. Turkey would then deliver the weapons to Azerbaijan.’

If successful, the cooperation could be expanded to other Central
Asian and Caucasus countries. Azerbaijan already employs Israeli
contractors for airport and border security systems. Now Azerbaijan
is seeking military help from Israel and Turkey `…amid a
deterioration in Baku’s relations with Iran that stems from a dispute
over the energy-rich Caspian Sea.’

Sunday night, only hours before the fateful assassination of Yassin,
the Israeli Foreign Ministry warned its citizens not to travel to
Turkey for Passover, for the first time putting the country on its
terrorism danger list. At the same press conference where he
criticized Israel’s action against Hamas, Gül hit back over the
travel warning. When asked for his reaction, the Foreign Minister
said:

`…that is their business. Istanbul is one of the safest places in the
world. They should leave Israel. Terrorism is much more common in
Israel than in Istanbul.’

This response was quite appropriate. Despite the twin terrorist
attacks in Turkey’s European capital last fall, Istanbul is generally
speaking one of the safest cities in the world, especially after
dark. The Israeli government’s remarks were unhelpful, especially at
a time when the Jewish state should try to avoid isolating itself
further on the world stage. More immediately, Turkey has a truly
vital relevance for it- as a future supplier of water. On March 4,
Israel signed a `guns for water’ agreement to import water from
Turkey. Under the agreement,

`…Israel will import 50 million cubic meters of water per year from
Turkey for a 20-year period. The amount would constitute 3 percent of
Israel’s drinking-water consumption. Finding sources of water in the
parched Middle East has long been a source of concern, with some
experts predicting water disputes could prompt the next great Middle
East war.’

There had been fierce speculation that the deal would not be signed,
`…to avoid possible angry reactions from Muslim countries.’ Israeli
objectors have also recently demanded concentrating on desalinization
plants instead, which they argue is cheaper in the long-term.

As part of the deal, Turkey will buy Israeli tanks and aerial
technology. Now, bidders from 5 countries are making offers for the
actual importing, pledging `…to lower the cost of transportation by
15%, which will make the deal much more economically feasible.’

In one of the chief areas where the two countries are closely
associated, i.e., their allegiances to the US, a distancing is also
taking place. One year ago Turkey refused American orders to open the
country up as an attack route against Iraq- a rare display of
democratic defiance and a move that indicated Ankara’s ability to
respect limits and adhere to its principles. Now, with its prime
focus being EU membership, Turkey is more eager to make its own
foreign policy harmonize with that of the EU, which is also
distancing itself more and more from an increasingly isolated
America.

Turkey is also enjoying its increasingly important role in regional
foreign policy. Ankara played the recent Georgian showdown carefully,
refusing to be drawn into the fray on behalf of Adjara’s
separatist-minded leader, Aslan Abashidze. He recently told Interfax
that Turkey was duty-bound to protect his `autonomous republic’ from
the Georgian central authorities under the 1921 Treaty of Kars.
Georgia repudiated this as an absurd anachronistic reference, and
Turkey confirmed that the Ottoman-era agreements were best left to
the past:

`…asked if Turkey could send soldiers to Adzharia within the
framework of its right as the guarantor power stemming from the Kars
agreement, (Turkish EU Adjustment Commission Chairman Yasar) Yakis
said, `Turkey has never had such an intention. None of 70 million
Turks will think of sending soldiers to Adzharia.”

Instead, while meeting Saturday with Georgian Parliament Speaker Nino
Burjanadze, the envoys also said that Turkey attaches `…great
importance to Georgia’s territorial integrity.’ Referring to the two
nations’ historic friendship, Yakis added, `…there are always steps
we can take together with Georgian authorities to further improve our
friendship.’ This weekend Yakis and former Turkish State Minister
Refaeddin Sahin also held meetings in both Batumi and Tbilisi to
`…exchange views about measures to be taken between two sides to
prevent [the] reoccurrence of such a tension in the future.’

While the near violent showdown between Abashidze and Georgian
President Mikheil Saakashvili seems to have been averted, the latter
threatened to reintroduce sanctions Monday against Adjara, if
Abashidze doesn’t allow Georgian government representatives to run
the region’s customs operations. Adjara has a key geographic
position, on the cusp of the Black Sea and the border with Turkey.
Customs revenues, which Abashidze has refused to turn over to the
central government in the past, provide the majority of Adjara’s
revenue and go towards propping up Abashidze’s personal suzerainty
over the area. Unrest there, such as last week’s showdown, has a
direct effect on Turkish transportation, shipping and local economy.
Hence it remains in the country’s interests to facilitate a peaceful
resolution of Georgian disputes.

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