Asbarez News Room 07-12-2000

[Guest]

1. ANC-PAC Endorses Adam Schiff For Congress

 

GLENDALE--The Armenian National Committee-Political Action Committee announced Tuesday that it has endorsed Adam Schiff in

the race for California's 27th congressional seat.

 

"Senator Schiff has not only been an outstanding representative for our community, he has an excellent record on issues impacting his

Armenian-American constituents," explained ANC-PAC Board Member Berdj Karapetian.

 

The ANC-PAC praised Schiff's record on blocking the Turkish Government's efforts to deny the Armenian Genocide, securing funding

for the production of a documentary on the Armenian Genocide, advocating the passage of legislation to benefit Armenian Genocide

survivors, and taking a leadership role for expanding economic relations between the State of California and the Republic of Armenia.

 

The ANC-PAC also expressed its appreciation to the Senator for his success at securing funding for juvenile crime prevention and

intervention programs, affordable housing, and services for seniors in his district. The Senator's efforts to expand job opportunities and

business in the district was applauded by the ANC-PAC.

 

"While Congressman Rogan is certainly a friend of the Armenian Community, Senator Schiff is a champion of the Armenian Cause,"

remarked the ANC-PAC spokesperson.

 

"Adam Schiff has accomplished what he promised to the ANC-PAC four years ago and we anticipate him being even more proactive as

a Member of Congress," observed ANC-PAC member Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian.

 

Earlier this week, Sen. Schiff issued the first of his position papers on issues of concern to his Armenian-American constituents. The

position paper describes the candidate's view on US aid to Armenia, support for Nagorno-Artsax and self-determination, the

restrictions on US aid to Azerbaijan, proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the restriction of arm sales and US aid to Turkey,

and outreach to Armenian-American constituents.

 

Schiff plans to issue a second position paper in the coming weeks on local, domestic and social issues of concern to Armenian-Americans

residing in the 27th Congressional District.

 

The 27th Congressional District includes Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, La Canada-Flintridge, San Marino and La Crescenta, as well as

parts of Los Angeles County, and is home to roughly 100,000 Armenian Americans.

 

The ANC-PAC endorsement comes at a time when the number of Armenian American voters in the district has risen dramatically,

resulting in the election of Rafi Manoukian to the Glendale City Council in 1999 and the strong showings by Republican Craig Missakian

and Democrat Paul Krekorian in the March 2000 primaries for the 43rd State Assembly race.

 

First elected to the California State Senate in 1996, Senator Schiff quickly earned the respect of his colleagues and the Senate leadership

and was promptly elevated to the chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee. As a member of the State Senate, Schiff has

demonstrated a remarkable understanding of issues impacting the Armenian community on both the national and local levels and the ability

to initiate innovative and effective measures to address these concerns.

 

In response to the Turkish Government's attempts to infiltrate American academia through the funding of Turkish chairs in US universities

for the purposes of distorting and denying the Armenian Genocide and in order to ensure academic integrity is preserved, in 1998 Senator

Schiff, along with then Senate President Bill Lockyer, authored a measure that mandated the University of California to establish criteria

by which to consider foreign funding, gifts and grants to State academic institutions. Using the California model as a guide, several states

including Massachusetts, Michigan and Rhode Island have since adopted similar legislation.

 

In 1999, Senator Schiff secured roughly $500,000 in state funding for the Armenian Film Foundation to produce a documentary on the

Armenian Genocide. The film, "Voices from the Lake - the Secret Genocide" was submitted for consideration in the documentary film

category at last year's Academy Awards and has also been submitted for inclusion in the Vienna International Film Festival later this year.

"Voices from the Lake" is expected to premiere in Southern California in October 2000.

 

Several months ago, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Schiff became the principal co-author of SB 1915, legislation extending the

statute of limitations for Armenian Genocide survivors and their heirs in the pursuit of genocide era insurance claims. With the strong

support of Chairman Schiff, the measure unanimously passed the Judiciary Committee and has since moved to the State Assembly for

consideration.

 

In order to stimulate local entrepreneurship and assist the fledgling Republic of Armenia, Senator Schiff, working closely with California

State Trade and Commerce Secretary Lon Hatamiya, initiated a study to explore the possibility of opening a California Trade Office in

Armenia. In addition, last month Senator Schiff hosted a Trade and Commerce symposium in Glendale with Secretary Hatamiya for

Armenian American businesses interested in expanding their activities and learning more about California programs designed to assist

small and medium sized companies.

 

As a former prosecutor in the U. S. Attorney's Office and an active member of the Big Brothers program, Senator Adam Schiff has

always taken a special interest in tackling youth violence. Later this month Senator Schiff, working in partnership with the Glendale

Unified School District and the City of Glendale, will host a Select Committee on Juvenile Justice Hearing on Combating Youth Violence

at the Glendale Central Library Auditorium.

 

The ANC-PAC's recommendations are based upon the candidate's record of support for issues of concern to Armenian Americans as

well as their potential to effectively advance those issues once elected to office.

 

"Senator Adam Schiff's record indicates he is the candidate best suited to assume the increasingly challenging role of representing the

residents of the 27th District," concluded Karapetian.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Kocharian, Aliyev to Meet in Yalta on Aug. 15

 

YEREVAN (Interfax)--The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Robert Kocharian and Haydar Aliyev, will meet on August 15 in the

Crimean resort town of Yalta in Ukraine for talks on the Nagorno-Artsax conflict, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian has

told the press Tuesday.

 

At a Tuesday news briefing in Yerevan, Oskanian replied to an Interfax question by saying that the results of that meeting will determine

the subsequent settlement plan to be worked out by the intermediaries--the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk group on Nagorno-

Artsax.

 

Oskanian noted that these co-chairmen had not come up with any new proposals or ideas on the problem during their visit to the region

last week.

 

After Yalta, he continued, the two presidents will meet again in New York in early September at the UN "millennium summit."

 

 

 

 

 

3. Oskanian Addresses Turkish-Armenian Relations

 

YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Armenian-Turkish relations were discussed during president Robert Kocharian's recent visits to the US and

France, said foreign minister Vartan Oskanian in a Tuesday news conference.

 

They were one of the key issues discussed during the Kocharian-Clinton, Kocharian-Al Gore and Kocharian-Chirac meetings. The US

has pledged its support in regards to this issue, including persuading Turkey to open borders with Armenia, said Oskanian.

 

However, the main obstacle today remains Turkey's position which ties the improvement of Armenian-Turkish relations to the resolution

of the Artsax conflict, said Oskanian.

 

Oskanian also expressed bewilderment over the recent expulsion of an Armenian delegation from the town of Gumri that had been invited

to a conference in Turkey's Kars. The official explanation given by Turkey's foreign ministry deputy spokesman tied the normalization of

bilateral relations to the unresolved Artsax conflict and Armenia's claims for the recognition of the 1915 Genocide, said Oskanian.

 

This was evaluated by Armenian foreign ministry as a sharp shift in Turkey's policy adopted quite recently.

 

Fortunately, noted Oskanian, this mistake was immediately corrected by Turkey's leadership. He cited Turkey's prime minister who had

recently twice noted that the only obstacle in the way of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations was the unresolved Artsax

conflict.

 

"We do not have a moral right to refuse the issue of Genocide acknowledgment. It is not a decision of the Armenian authorities, it is the

decision of all Armenians," Oskanian said.

 

Oskanian also stated that the steps aimed towards the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, including those taken in Turkey, are not

directed to root hostility between the two nations but to eliminate that hostility and make normalization of relations possible.

 

Turning to the economic sphere, unlike previous meetings Armenian officials have held with international leaders, this time the primary

focus was put on Armenia's economic development and only then on the Artsax conflict settlement.

 

Oskanian also stressed that issues related to corruption struggle in Armenia and facilitating the tax burden had been discussed with key

officials of the World Bank and IMF. Oskanian noted that the economic growth pace over the recent 7-8 years was not sufficient to

radically improve the situation. "I think there are all reasons now to believe that the authorities will be able to solve major problems in the

year of 2001," said Oskanian.

 

Referring to the principle of complimentarity pursued in foreign policy, Oskanian said it proved to be successful. He, in particular, stressed

that Armenia's contacts with Russia were not restricted to the military only and that the relations with the US were not restricted to

economic ones only.

 

Referring to the reportedly mass emigration of Armenians Oskanian said it was somewhat exaggerated. "However we should not be

satisfied with this and should take resolute steps to prevent it by securing sustainable economic growth," he added.

 

Oskanian also said that president Kocharian and his Azeri counterpart Heydar Aliyev are to meet in August in the Crimea during an

extraordinary CIS summit. They are also expected to have another meeting in September in New York at the sidelines of the UN 2000

general assembly session.

 

The OSCE Minsk group co-chairmen said during their recent visit to the region they hoped that these two direct meetings would give a

new impetus to new ideas regarding the Artsax conflict settlement and on their basis they would continue their mission, Oskanian said.

 

He swept off speculations that the conflict was entering a "conservation" phase with maintaining of the cease-fire regime only. "Outwardly

there may be such an impression, but inwardly the stress is put on the conflict's quickest possible resolution," he said.

 

"The dragging or conservation of the conflict's settlement is not beneficial either for Armenia, Azerbaijan or Artsax," he said.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Kocharian Appoints Deputy Foreign Minister

 

YEREVAN (Snark)--President Robert Kocharian last Friday signed a decree appointing Levon Mkrtchyan as deputy foreign minister of

the Republic of Armenia, reported the presidential press service.

 

Levon Mkrtchyan earlier occupied the post of chairman of the state committee for religious affairs. In 1998 he headed the Education and

Science Ministry.

 

 

 

 

 

5. 14 Charged in Oct. 27 Case

 

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--Military prosecutors in Armenia Tuesday officially charged 14 individuals on several counts for involvement

in the October 27 shoot out in the Armenian National Assembly, which resulted the in the killing of prime minister Vazgen Sagsyan,

parliament speaker Karen Demirchian and six others.

 

The group conducting preliminary investigation into the October 27 case announced that the investigation into the parliament blood-bath

was completed and that the case was handed to the Supreme Court for trial, which could begin as early as September.

 

"We would remind you that 14 persons are charged with aiding and abetting, as well as perpetrating the terrorist act on October 27,

1999," said chief investigator Artak Harutiunian.

 

Five suspected members of the commando group which stormed parliament have been charged with high treason, staging an attempted

coup and terrorism. Nine other, mainly security guards in parliament, are accused of negligence in the execution of their duties or helping

the gunmen.

 

Prosecutors said no evidence had been found to suggest that the killing had been ordered by a third party.

 

The portions of the prosecutor's report concerning the individuals charged with unlawful possession of arms have been separated from the

Oct. 27 case. The aforementioned persons are believed to have been involved in the crime and neglected their official duties, added

Harutiunian.

 

Harutiunian also said that after the preliminary investigation is declared completed, the defendants, their lawyers and representatives of the

victims will be afforded the opportunity to study the materials of the case within the terms set by the preliminary investigation body.

Thereafter the case will be sent to court.

 

 

 

 

 

6. Commission Chairs Elected in Artsax Parliament

 

STEPANAKERT (Noyan Tapan)--The newly elected Parliament of the Nagorno-Artsax Republic resumed its work on Monday

with the election of a deputy speaker and standing commission chairs.

 

Moushegh Ohanjian of the Democratic Union of Artsakh was elected deputy speaker with a vote of 31 to 1

 

By the arrangement of both parliamentary factions, the elections of the chairmen of the six standing commissions of the National Assembly

were held on a non-alternative basis. Four of the six candidates represented the DUA faction, two the Armenian Revolutionary

Federation.

 

The following deputies were elected chairmen of the standing commissions:

 

Vahram Atanesian (DUA): foreign relations;

 

Kamo Barseghian (ARF): industry and industrial infrastructure;

 

Arthur Mosian (ARF): defense, security and law and order;

 

Yury Hayrapetian (DUA): on state and legal issues;

 

Eduard Aghabekian (DUA): social welfare issues;

 

Mayor Danielian (DUA): finance, budget and economic management issues.

 

A resolution on the confirmation of the standing commissions' memberships was also adopted at the legislative session.

 

 

 

 

 

7. Aliyev Tells Sezer to Move on Pipeline

 

BAKU (Reuters)--Azeri leader Haydar Aliyev told visiting Turkish President Ahmed Necdet Sezer on Tuesday Azerbaijan was keen to

begin work on a US-backed oil pipeline that would terminate in Turkey and bypass both Iran and Russia.

 

Necdet made his first official foreign trip as president to Azerbaijan, the former Soviet republic Turkey sees as a key base for access to

the markets of the energy rich Caspian states Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

 

During their two-hour meeting, Aliyev urged Sezer to speed up development of the oil pipeline, which will carry Caspian oil to Turkey's

Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, a route strongly favored by the United States.

 

``I think there are no problems concerning the oil pipeline and we ought to begin carrying out the project,'' Aliyev said. The pipeline is

slated for completion in late 2004 if financing is forthcoming.

 

The $2.4 billion crude line will bypass Russia and southern neighbor Iran--two countries that have traditionally vied with Turkey for

influence over the southern Caucasus region.

 

Sezer reaffirmed his country's political support for Azerbaijan and continued cooperation in the sphere of oil and gas transportation during

his first official foreign trip.

 

In visiting Azerbaijan, Sezer was following in the footsteps of his predecessor Suleyman Demirel, who made closer relations with

Azerbaijan and other Turkic-speaking ex-Soviet republics in Central Asia one of the pillars of his foreign policy.

 

``I think I made the right decision to make my first official foreign trip to Azerbaijan and the warm reception I received here shows the

special relationship between the two countries,'' Sezer told Aliyev.

 

Sezer visited northern Cyprus recently, but the breakaway state and its leadership are not recognized by the international community.

 

Azerbaijan is eager to cement its relationship with Turkey through the construction of two multi-billion dollar oil and gas pipelines, which

they hope will ensure their political and economic independence from former imperial ruler Russia.

 

A second pipeline from a giant offshore Azeri gas field to the Turkish border was also on the agenda and Aliyev said it was time to

resolve the question over gas deliveries to Turkey.

 

BP Amoco, which leads the consortium that discovered the field last year, is waiting for Azerbaijan and Turkey to sign a crucial gas

purchase agreement before they can proceed with their $1.3 billion gas development plan.

 

 

 

 

 

8. Bashar Wins 97.29% In Syrian Presidential Vote

 

DAMASCUS (Reuters)--Bashar al-Assad won 97.29 percent of the votes in a referendum to confirm him as president of Syria,

succeeding his late father Hafez al-Assad, Interior Minister Mohammed Harba said on Tuesday.

 

He told a televised news conference that about one quarter of one percent of those voting on Monday opposed the 34-year-old eye

doctor becoming president for the next seven years. The remaining ballots were spoiled. Harba said turnout was virtually 100 percent.

 

``Our masses said yes to the constant course, yes to the bright future,'' the interior minister declared.

 

Newspapers had already proclaimed Bashar winner of the single-candidate referendum even before Harba's announcement.

 

Parliament is expected to meet on Thursday for the formal inauguration ceremony and Bashar is expected to outline his foreign and

domestic policies in a speech to the assembly.

 

 

 

 

 

9. Kocharian-Putin Meeting Postponed Until September

 

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—Armenian president Robert Kocharian's meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, scheduled for late

July, is most likely to be postponed until September, foreign minister Vartan Oskanian told reporters today.

 

The foreign minister said that it had been previously agreed that Kocharian and Putin would meet in September, later Putin's staff

proposed to hold the meeting in late July. However, the meeting as it seems most likely now, will take place in September, said Oskanian.

 

 

 

 

 

10. OSCE Monitoring of Cease-Fire Zone Begins

 

STEPANAKERT (Armenpress)—Regular monitoring of the cease fire zone between the armed forces of Artsax and Azerbaijan was

held Saturday by the OSCE Mission. The monitoring took place northwest of the Artsax territory on the Mrav mountain ridge at a

height of 3 400 meters above sea level.

 

The monitoring of the territory controlled by the Artsax forces was conducted by the personal representative of the OSCE

Chairman-in-Office Andrej Kasprzyk. The Mission also comprised of the head of the OSCE High Planning Group, Colonel Bernard

Vialat (France), Field Assistants of the PRCO Shandor Uhas (Hungary) and Stephan Buchmeyer (Austria).

 

Visual contact between the monitoring groups was impossible because of the dense fog. Through radio communication the members of

the OSCE Mission kept in contact with the commanders responsible for the defense section. No violation of the cease-fire regime was

reported during the monitoring.

 

The OSCE monitoring group was accompanied by Artsax foreign and defense ministry officials. Kasprzyk met with the Artsax

defense minister Seyran Ohanian Sunday to discuss the results of the monitoring.