asbarez.com news room - 08- 09- 2000

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1. Dick Cheney and Joseph Lieberman on Armenian American Issues

 

WASHINGTON--Vice-President Al Gore's official announcement Tuesday naming Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman as his

vice-presidential running-mate, only a week after Texas Governor George W. Bush's pick of former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney as

the Republican vice-presidential candidate, provides Armenian American voters with important insights into the types of priorities and

foreign policy approaches of the two candidates should they win the presidency this November.

 

Both Cheney and Lieberman have records on a number of Armenian American issues, ranging from the Armenian Genocide to Nagorno

Artsax to the Section 907 restrictions on US aid to Azerbaijan. Both have cast votes on these issues and spoken out - often forcefully

- on US policy toward Armenia, the Caucasus, and the Caspian region.

 

"The vice-presidential selections by both George W. Bush and Al Gore raise a number of questions about how they intend to direct our

nation's foreign policy on issues of immediate and vital importance to Armenian Americans," said ANCA Executive Director Aram

Hamparian. "To make an informed choice on election day, Armenian American voters will need answers to these questions--answers that

the candidates can provide by completing the ANCA Presidential Questionnaire, located at www.anca.org.".

 

The Democratic Candidate: Joseph Lieberman

 

Two-term Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman has, over the past decade, cast three critical votes on the Senate floor against the

Armenian American community, even as he has frequently spoken out in support of issues of concern to Armenian American voters. The

first vote, less than two years after being elected in 1988, was against Senator Bob Dole's Armenian Genocide resolution (S.J.212). In

February of that year, he voted to kill this measure despite the Connecticut Armenian community's extensive efforts to educate him on the

Armenian Genocide and Lieberman's own insistence that American foreign policy be founded on moral principles.

 

Subsequently, however, in 1992, 1994, 1995, and 1996, he joined his colleagues on the Senate floor in honoring the victims of the

Armenian Genocide, describing the event as one the 20th century's "greatest tragedies: the death of over 1.5 million Armenians and their

exile from their homeland." In his 1996 comments, he spoke against efforts to deny the Genocide and explained the importance of yearly

Congressional observances:

 

"We mark this date in history because it is so important that we remember. We must remember the Armenian Genocide and other abuses

of state authority against ethnic minorities. We must remember all of the victims of crimes against humanity. Our memory, our vigilance, is

essential to ensuring that these acts do not happen again, to Armenians or any other group."

 

Lieberman was an early and vocal supporter of the Section 907 restrictions on US aid to Azerbaijan. In speeches in the 1990s, the

Senator was vocal in his support for the newly independent Republic of Armenia, and his opposition to Azeri attacks against Nagorno

Artsax. He initiated and co-signed several letters to President George Bush, Secretary of State James Baker and later Secretary of

State Warren Christopher condemning Azeri aggression, supporting restrictions on US relations with Azerbaijan, and expressing concern

about the Turkish blockade of Armenia.

 

In a statement on the Senate floor on July 24, 1990, Sen. Lieberman advocated the reunification of Nagorno Artsax with Armenia,

stating, "What can America do to help Armenia? First, we should impress upon Soviet officials that it is vital that the blockade of

Nagorno Artsax be lifted indefinitely. We should urge that Nagorno-Artsax should be eventually returned to the Armenian

Republic. Until their eventual reunification, we should insist that the physical barriers be removed to enable Armenia and Artsax to

cooperate economically and culturally."

 

In a sharp break from the positive rhetorical record he established following his 1990 vote against the recognition of the Armenian

Genocide, Lieberman cast his second critical vote against the Armenian American community in 1995 when he voted against an

amendment introduced by Sen. Alfonse D'Amato (R-NY) to reduce US assistance to Turkey by over 50%, because of that country's

continued blockade of Armenia and ongoing human rights abuses.

 

The third vote, in June of 1999, was against an amendment by Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.), to

maintain restrictions on US assistance to Azerbaijan as mandated in Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. In casting this vote,

Lieberman broke with the majority of Senate Democrats who support keeping these restrictions in place.

 

In October of last year, Lieberman joined thirteen of his Senate colleagues in co-sponsoring legislation introduced by Sen. Abraham

condemning the violent attack in the Armenian Parliament that claimed the lives of Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, Parliament Chairman

Karen Demirchian and several other members of the Armenian Government and urged that Congress "cherish the strong friendship

between Armenia and the United States."

 

The Republican Candidate: Dick Cheney

 

After serving as President Gerald Ford's Chief of Staff in November 1975, Dick Cheney was elected to the House of Representatives

from the state of Wyoming in 1978, and served for six terms. During that time, Cheney voted against resolutions commemorating the

Armenian Genocide both in 1985 and 1987. In 1995, Cheney joined the Halliburton Company, an oil and energy services corporation,

and after his appointment as Chairman of the Board in 1996, worked extensively with the government of Azerbaijan on oil exploration

ventures.

 

Since that time, he has been a vocal advocate of efforts to repeal restrictions on US aid to Azerbaijan despite that country's ongoing

blockades of Armenia and Nagorno Artsax. In his keynote speech at a US-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC) conference

on February 18, 1997, Cheney stated, "I must also say that I believe that our current policy prohibiting US assistance to Azerbaijan is

seriously misguided. In my experience, this kind of unilateral sanction, based primarily on US domestic political considerations, is unwise.

Such a policy limits US influence in any given situation, and in this case, it reduces rather than enhances the prospects for ultimately

resolving a very complex and important set of regional issues."

 

In 1997, Cheney, who serves as a member of the USACC "Honorary Council of Advisors," was awarded their "Freedom Support"

award, for his "outstanding services to this organization [uSACC] as well as contribution toward promoting peace, democracy, freedom

and economic development in Azerbaijan and a closer cooperation between the United States and Azerbaijan."

 

 

 

 

 

2. Influential Leader Names Armenian in Election List

 

BEIRUT (Aztag)--Another candidate from the United Armenian Bloc, Hunchakian Party leader Mihran Seferian, was named in a slate

announced Tuesday by Lebanon's influential Sunni Muslim leader Tamam Salam.

 

Seferian's candidacy was proposed by the Social-Democratic Hunchakian party, and thus has found its way in the United Armenian Bloc

list, compiled jointly by the Hunchakian party and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, in cooperation with religious and community

leaders.

 

The entire list of candidates was endorsed Tuesday by prime minister Selim Hoss.

 

Seferian will be pitted against former Hunchak party leader Yeghig Djeredjian, who declared his candidacy without the approval of his

party leadership, thus causing a massive internal rift within the party.

 

Salam announced his candidates list during a press conference Tuesday, attended by ARF Central Committee representative, as well as

Hunchakian Governing Body members and the representative of the current parliamentary Armenian bloc Sebouh Hovnanian. Other

Armenian candidates Hagop Pakradouni and Stepan Abadjian also attended the event.

 

In other developments, current parliament member Jaques Choukadarian (Armenian Catholic seat) announced Tuesday that he will not

run for re-election, respecting a decision by the ARF to not include his name in the United Armenian Bloc. Choukadarian said that he

could not go against the ARF decision, since the party assisted his election efforts during the last parliamentary vote.

 

Also on Tuesday, another Armenian Catholic candidate Nazar Nadjarian withdrew his candidacy, throwing his support for the ARF-led

United Armenian Bloc list candidate.

 

Nazarian told supporters and followers that he would withdraw from the race, only when the ARF does not include his name in the name.

He urged all supporters to stand in solidarity with the ARF-Hunchakian-led United Armenian Bloc candidate for Beirut third electoral

district.

 

The Catholic candidate on the United Armenian list is Stepan Abadjian.

 

Lebanon's parliamentary elections are conducted on a community representation basis. Each religious community has parliament members

based on the number of community members.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Armenia to Offer Cash Bonuses to Olympic Winners

 

YEREVAN (Reuters)--Armenia has become the latest former Soviet republic to offer financial rewards to medal winners at next month's

Sydney Olympics.

 

``Our government has pledged $40,000, $30,000 and $20,000 bonuses for a gold, silver and bronze respectively,'' Gagik Chobanyan,

executive director of the Armenian Olympic Committee, said.

 

Armenia, winners of one gold and one silver medal at the 1996 Games in Atlanta, will send a 27-man team to Sydney where they will

compete in nine sports.

 

Earlier this year Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan announced bonuses for Sydney while Belarus have offered free housing to

medal winners.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Simonian Awarded FIFA Medal

 

YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Renowned international soccer star Nikita Simonian was awarded a medal for outstanding service by the

International Soccer Federation (FIFA), making him one of only a handful of athletes in the world to be bestowed the honor.

 

Simonian has received numerous awards, medals and accolades for soccer and sportsmanship, as well as honors from the Soviet Union.

In 1956 he became an Olympic champion and in 1958 World Cup championship , he was named the most valuable player of the Soviet

Union. That same year, he also won a medal from the International Olympic Committee.

 

His leadership propelled Yerevan's Ararat soccer team to Soviet champion status in 1973.

 

 

 

 

 

5. Special Commission Being Set Up To Fight Drug Trafficking

 

YEREVAN (Armenpress)--President Robert Kocharian signed a decree on August 8, and made changes on the decree titled "Measures

for Strengthening the Struggle Against Drug Trafficking and Drug Addiction".

 

According to the president's press office, in addition to other changes, the decree stipulates creation of a special commission led by

interior minister and also comprising deputy interior, national security, defense, justice, health, state revenues, finance and economy

ministers. The commission will be tasked to work out and implement special measures directed to struggling against drug trafficking and

addiction.

 

 

 

 

 

6. Government Sells Ararat Winery In Russia

 

YEREVAN (Armenpress)--State property minister David Vardanian told Armenpress that the government has decided to sell the entire

amount of shares of the Ararat winery located in Russia's Saint Petersburg. This puts an end to the controversial issue that brought about

numerous complaints of the French Pernod Ricard, the owner of the Yerevan Brand Company that was demanding to stop production of

Armenian brandy in Russia, as it was one of the provisions of the Yerevan Brand Company takeover agreement.

 

The winery will be sold to an Armenian-Russian joint venture YerPetConcern. The buyer will pay $300,000 and will purchase 2,000 tons

of grapes from Armenia annually. "The decision will undoubtedly be welcomed by the Yerevan Brand Company," Vardanian said.

 

The decision will come into force only after it is endorsed by the Armenian President who is expected to approve it later this month.

 

 

 

 

 

7. Minister Urges Demirchian To Avoid Alliance With Opposition Bloc

 

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—Agriculture Minister Zaven Gevorgian said on Wednesday that he is strongly opposed to a possible alliance

between the opposition Right and Accord bloc and the People's Party of Armenia, with which he is closely connected.

 

"I am against an alliance between [People's Party chairman Stepan] Demirchian and [Right and Accord leader Artashes] Geghamian,"

Gevorgian declared, in a rare public interference in political affairs. The comments follow a series of meetings between Geghamian and

Demirchian, which led to widespread speculations about the formation of a formidable opposition bloc. The meetings reflect the People's

Party's growing frustration with the current governing coalition of which it technically remains a member.

 

But Gevorgian, who owes his current job to his unofficial affiliation with the People's Party, said the center-left party must not join

opposition ranks. Speaking at a news conference, he warned: "I don't see anything bad in that cooperation. But if it is directed against the

president of the republic or aims to destabilize the political situation, I will be categorically against it and will use my authority and links

with that party to keep it from taking such a step."

 

The minister's remarks are likely to carry weight with many People's Party members, considering his close personal relationship with the

party's late founder and Stepan's father, Karen Demirchian. In the 1980s Gevorgian headed one of the local branches of the

Demirchian-led Armenian Communist Party. In another sign of differences brewing inside the party, the People's Party's board decided to

expel one of the authors of its 1998 manifesto, Hmayak Hovannisian, for "going against the official party line." In an interview with

RFE/RL on Tuesday, Hovannisian too spoke out against the rapprochement with Geghamian's bloc. Demirchian's party continues to be

manipulated by other political groups because "it is still unable to finds its own role and place in the political stage," Hovannisian said.

 

 

 

 

 

8. Baku Urges Resolution of Caspian Status

 

ANKARA (Turkish Daily News)—Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister Halef Halefov has stated that the status of the Caspian Sea should be

determined through accepted and objective laws rather than requests by individual states.

 

In a statement made in Baku yesterday, Halefov said the dispute over the status of the Caspian Sea should be tackled through

negotiations among the countries bordering on it but added that there have been no concrete steps to this end so far.

 

Stressing that they have been unable to reach a just and permanent resolution to the dispute yet, Deputy Foreign Minister Halefov said no

common decision has emerged from the proposals by the bordering countries. "We have experience of dividing the Caspian Sea into

sectors and want the parties to have talks around this experience," said Halefov.

 

The countries which border the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Russia have problems in defining their

respective zones, but the fiercest dispute has been between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. While the two countries have serious problems

over sharing the Kepez region, Turkmenistan has been claiming that the Azeri and Chirag oil-beds, over which Azerbaijan has already

signed agreements with the Azeri International Oil Company (AIOC) to extract oil, belong to Ashgabad and not to Azerbaijan. A meeting

between the foreign ministers of the countries concerned is expected to be held in Moscow in the coming week to sort out their

differences over the Caspian Sea disputes.

 

Meanwhile Halefov has also blamed Russia for destabilizing the region by providing military equipment to Armenia. Halefov stated that

Russia has been threatening not only the security of Azerbaijan, but of all the region. Stressing that Baku would tell the world of Russia's

military aid to Armenia unless Yerevan ended its occupation of Azeri soil, Halefov nevertheless said Russia's stance vis-à-vis the peace

efforts had been positive.

 

 

 

 

 

9. Kocharian Praises OSCE Office In Yerevan

 

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—President Robert Kocharian met with head of the OSCE office in Yerevan and ambassador Roy Reeve.

 

According to the president's press office, Reeve presented the main directions and plans of the activities of the office. He noted that much

work is being carried out to improve the Armenian legal field and to bring it in conformity with the European standards.

 

Kocharian praised the assistance of the OSCE Yerevan office, considering it much useful.

 

The counterparts referred to the issues concerning the struggle against corruption and underlined the importance of joint work against it.

 

 

 

 

 

10. Armenian-Egyptian Military-Political Cooperation Discussed

 

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—The secretary of the National Security Council, Defense Minister Serzh Sargissian met with the delegation of

the Arab Republic of Egypt, led by the head of the administrative supervision service, former deputy minister of defense, General Ahmed

El Tantau Goniem, accompanied by Egypt's extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to Armenia, Bakri Roushdi Al Ammari.

 

According to the defense ministry, during the meeting Sargissian presented the process of armed forces build up.

 

The counterparts exchanged ideas concerning the regional security problems and military-political situation. Sargissian presented

Armenia's standpoint on forming regional security system. Issues of bilateral interest and perspectives for the development of the

military-political co-operation were also discussed during the meeting, which passed in a warm atmosphere.

 

 

 

 

 

11. Armenian Monuments In Iran Being Restored

 

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—Numerous Armenian historical and cultural monuments, including fortresses of Urartu and articles of art of

that epoch have been preserved in the territory of Iran. Joint Armenian-Iranian expeditions are expected to be organized to study those

monuments.

 

The Iranian authorities are currently making considerable efforts to preserve and restore the Armenian historical monuments, in particular,

Cloisters of St. Stepanos the Forerunner and St. Thaddeus which are both on Iranian territory.

 

Talking to Noyan Tapan, Head of the Department for Preservation and Restoration of Monuments, Ministry of Culture Youth Affairs and

Sport, Gagik Gyurjian said that during their recent official visit to Iran, the Armenian delegation headed by Minister of Culture Roland

Sharoyan reached an agreement on the participation of Armenian specialists in the restoration works.

 

He said that in 1999 five Armenian specialists were sent to Iran where they drew up the projects of restoring the cloisters. Two

stonemasons who accompanied them completed the restoration of the cupola of the Church Tsortsor. Gyurjian pointed out that all the

works were carried out on the funds provided by the Iranian government, Armenian dioceses and Armenian philanthropists in Iran.

 

Gyurjian said that Armenian monuments promote the development of tourism in Iran. The local population and foreign tourists are

particularly interested in the cloisters of St. Tadevos, St. Stepanos the Forerunner and in the complex of monuments in Nor Juga and

Isfagan.

 

Gyurjian said that Days of Armenian culture will be organized in Iran this November, and an agreement on the participation of Iranian

specialists in the restoration of Iranian cultural monuments in Armenia will be signed. In particular, the restoration of the Blue Mosque is

expected to be completed, and the mosque will become a cultural center.

 

 

 

 

 

12. Ashot Bleyan Case Continues

 

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—The lower court of Yerevan's Malatia-Sebastia district continues the hearing of the criminal case initiated

against the former Minister of Education, former director of the Mkhitar Sebastatsi educational complex, Ashot Bleyan. Besides the

principal defendant, also charged are the paymaster Aida Avakova and accountant Rima Poghosova.

 

At the August 8 court sitting, Judge Iskuhi Vardanian considered the petition of the two last-named for the change of the measure of

restriction, but the Prosecution objected to the petition. Despite that fact that the defendants deposited bails, the court rejected their

petition.

 

At one of the previous court sittings Poghosova stated that during the preliminary investigation, investigator Hovik Petrossian offered Aida

Avakova to give evidence against Bleyan, promising her to change the measure of restriction against her.