Tweet
ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
07/09/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <http://www.asbarez.com/>HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ.COM
1. Demonstration Planned Against Turkish Prime Minister in Paris
2. Youth Priority in ARF CC and Archbishop Mardirossian Meeting
3. South Ossetia Releases Georgian Peacekeepers
4. OSCE Accused of Meddling in Armenia's Affairs
5. 'Armenians for Kerry' House Parties Across The Nation
6. A Year in The Life of Rose Alex Pilibos School
7. Glendale ANC, Community Leaders Welcome New GUSD Superintendent Escalante
8. Art Exhibit A LIGHT WITHIN
9. Five Armenian Chess-Players Rank Among FIDE's Top 100 List
1. Demonstration Planned Against Turkish Prime Minister in Paris
Organized By ARF And ADL of France, with Support of French-Armenian
Coordinating Council
PARIS (Gamkonline)--In view of Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan's
upcoming
visit to France, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Armenian Democratic
League (Ramgavar party) have called on French Armenians to participate in a
mass demonstration against Turkeys' genocidal and denialist policies, on
Tuesday, July 20, at Place du Trocadero (Human Rights Square) in Paris.
In their announcement of the demonstration, the organized stated that the
undertaking has the support of the Paris and Rhône-Alpes French-Armenian
Coordinating Council as well as the Representative Council of Marseilles
Armenian Associations.
Prime Minister Erdogan will be in Paris July 19-20, after visiting Germany
and
Holland, in an attempt to secure France's support in December 2004 for
beginning talks regarding Turkey's accession to the European Union.
"At a time when French public opinion is negatively disposed toward Turkey's
accession the Union, particularly because of Turkey's denial of the Armenian
Genocide, we cannot accept the French people might be confronted by a decision
that is unacceptable to them," the organizers stated in their announcement.
"We cannot accept that genocidal and denialist Turkey might join a Europe of
memory and human rights. We cannot accept that a Turkish Premier will wage,
right before our eyes, a campaign of disinformation, to which acquiescent
media
outlets will give wide coverage."
French President Jacques Chirac will cast a decisive vote on behalf of France
in December regarding Turkey's accession. In the meantime, Turkey has
undertaken a massive public relations campaign in an attempt to show that it
meets the European Council's Copenhagen Criteria for accessionwithout,
however,
meeting the conditions set forth by the 18 June 1987 decision of the European
Parliament, which recognized the Armenian Genocide and called on Turkey to do
the same.
2. Youth Priority in ARF CC and Archbishop Mardirossian Meeting
A delegation representing the ARF Central Committee of the Western US paid an
official visit to the Armenian Prelacy on Wednesday, July 7, to congratulate
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian on his recent re-election as Prelate, for a
third term, by the National Representative Assembly.
The ARF delegation was headed by CC Representative Hovig Saliba. Also present
at the meeting were members of the Prelacy Executive Council, whom the ARF
reps
congratulated on their election as well, wishing them continued success.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views on issues of
concern to both the Church and community organizations. Discussions
centered on
bringing Armenian-American youth closer to the Church and other national
institutions, and in doing so to collaborate and coordinate efforts,
particularly in light of their shared goal of preserving Armenian identity and
enlisting the potential of the youth in the service of the Armenian people.
The Prelate and Executive Council members welcomed this initiative. The
delegation, in turn, reaffirmed both its deep confidence in the Prelate and
Council and its willingness to continue the mutual cooperation and coordinated
work in order to ensure the success of the Prelacy's undertakings.
3. South Ossetia Releases Georgian Peacekeepers
Prague (RFE-RL)--Separatist forces in South Ossetia on Friday freed dozens of
Georgian peacekeepers, a day after detaining and disarming them.
Irina Gagloeva, a spokeswoman for the South Ossetian government, said 35 of
the 38 peacekeepers were turned over to Georgian officials at a checkpoint
in a
village just south of the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, at midday.
Gagloeva said three peacekeepers remain in custody, accused of unspecified
"grave crimes."
But Mikheil Kebadze, the commander of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion in
South Ossetia stated that 36 peacekeepers were captured initially and that all
have been released:
"The first group of 32 were handed over to us, while four soldiers still
remained hostage," Kebadze said. "But five minutes later, they gave us those
four, as well. So, all 36 of the detained soldiers were released. [Minister of
Internal Affairs Irakli] Okruashvili was waiting for them. They were put into
buses and driven away. To where, I don't know. The soldiers were released
without any conditions, as had been agreed."
The Interior Ministry troops were seized when armed men entered the South
Ossetian village of Vanati--east of Tskhinvali and populated by ethnic
Georgians--and disarmed members of a peacekeeping force stationed there.
The capture of the troops and videotape of them--shown on Russian
television--kneeling in front of South Ossetian soldiers have further raised
tensions in the region.
Since his election in January, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has
secured the removal of the leader of another fractious region, Ajaria, and has
now set his sights on restoring central rule in both South Ossetia and
Abkhazia, a breakaway region on the Black Sea.
South Ossetia declared independence from Tbilisi after it fought a short
civil
war with Russian support in the early 1990s.
Tensions had already been high since Georgia sent troops to protect
antismuggling checkpoints in South Ossetia last month. The atmosphere worsened
on Wednesday when Georgian troops seized a convoy they said was carrying
rocket
launchers intended for separatists.
Russia said the weapons were meant for its peacekeeping troops.
Saakashvili today cut short a state visit to Iran and returned to Tbilisi,
where he headed into a meeting with his security ministers.
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania had earlier described the raid on
Vanati
as an "insolent provocation implemented personally by Ossetian separatist
leader Eduard Kokoity."
Kokoity's chief of staff, Eduard Kotayev, said on Thursday that those
captured
were not members of the peacekeeping force and that they had been captured
in a
zone manned by Russian peacekeepers.
But the secretary of Georgia's National Security Council, Gela Bezhuashvili,
said the capture of the Georgian peacekeepers was meant to preserve Kokoity's
authority.
"Kokoity's illegal government is losing support among its own people because
[Kokoity] is acting against his own people," Bezhuashvili said. "He is making
his own people hostage of his actions and in that way seeks to preserve his
own
authority."
Aleksandr Yakovenko, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, on 8 July
urged both sides to show maximum restraint.
In Washington on Thursday, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher called
for the soldiers' immediate release and said the United States condemned the
incident.
"We are encouraging all sides to work towards the immediate release of the
hostages and to take steps to reduce tensions," Boucher said. "We think that
intensified dialogue is the best way to a peaceful solution that ensures
Georgia's territorial integrity and avoids further violence."
Moscow aligns itself with the international view that both South Ossetia and
Abkhazia are part of Georgian territory. But it has often backed the two
provinces in disputes with Tbilisi and has granted many of their people
Russian
citizenship.
4. OSCE Accused of Meddling in Armenia's Affairs
VIENNA (RFE-RL)--Armenia has joined Russia and seven other ex-Soviet states in
accusing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) of
unjustly meddling in their internal affairs.
In a joint statement circulated at the OSCE's governing Permanent Council in
Vienna on Thursday, they complained that the 55-nation security organization,
of which they are all members, spends too much time monitoring elections and
human rights in the Commonwealth of Independent States.
"In part (the OSCE) does not respect such fundamental principles...as
non-interference in internal affairs and respect of national sovereignty,"
said
the statement signed by Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,
Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
"It is of concern that OSCE field missions focus not on their mandated
role to
help the authorities of the receiving state..., but exclusively on monitoring
human rights and democratic institutions," it added.
"The document did not come out of thin air," the spokesman for the Armenian
Foreign Ministry, Hamlet Gasparian, said on Friday. "There has long been
concern about the OSCE and a need for reform inside the OSCE."
Gasparian claimed that the OSCE "sometimes" acts beyond the framework of its
responsibilities in the former Soviet Union. "Whenever a certain organization
oversteps that boundary that is considered an interference in internal
affairs," he said.
The criticism was apparently initiated by the biggest and most influential
CIS
country, Russia. It has long accused the OSCE of applying double standards to
its member. Moscow is in particular unhappy with OSCE observers' criticism of
President Vladimir Putin's landslide reelection last March.
Other signatories of the statement, notably Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, have
long been ruled by autocratic leaders who are regularly denounced as gross
human rights offenders by international non-governmental watchdogs like
Amnesty
International and Human Rights Watch.
The OSCE has monitored the presidential and parliamentary elections held in
Armenia since independence and did not judge any of them to be democratic. Its
observers reported numerous instances of serious fraud such as ballot stuffing
and miscounting during last year's Armenian presidential vote.
Also, the OSCE's permanent office in Armenia has repeatedly criticized the
Armenian authorities' human rights record. It described as politically
motivated the arrests of several prominent opposition figures during the
recent
campaign of anti-government demonstrations in Yerevan and helped to secure
their release.
"We are not saying that human rights are not important," Gasparian said. "We
are talking about unbalanced approaches during electoral processes. There is a
misbalance of importance attached by the OSCE to various spheres and there is
inequality in its assessment of countries."
The Russian head of the OSCE office, Vladimir Pryakhin, declined on Friday to
comment on the CIS criticism of his organization.
Reacting to the statement, the European Union and the United States missions
to OSCE argued that human rights and rule-of-law issues can not be considered
internal affairs, the Associated Press reported. In a statement issued by the
Netherlands, which holds the rotating EU presidency, the union said it will
reflect on the issues raised by Russia and the others but added that it has
"serious concern about certain elements of the declaration."
Armenia committed itself to even stricter standards of democracy and human
rights when it joined the Council of Europe in 2001. In addition, Armenian
leaders announced last March that they are ready to assume additional
obligations on political reform in order to forge closer ties with the EU.
5. 'Armenians for Kerry' House Parties Across The Nation
WASHINGTON, DCGrassroots "Armenians for Kerry" committees joined over 1,100
homes nationwide in organizing events for the National John Kerry House Party
Day on June 26. The events constituted one of the largest coordinated
grassroots fundraising efforts for a presidential candidate in American
history.
"Armenians for Kerry" hosted seven house parties in communities large and
small across the United StatesArizona, California, Idaho, Massachusetts,
Nevada, and New Jersey. Each of the house parties was able to go onto a
conference call with Kerry who described his vision for the future of
America.
Previously, Armenian Democrats and supporters had joined together in
Arlington, Virginia for a House Party in May, bringing together activists from
the Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Southern Maryland. Kerry for
President Ethnic Outreach Coordinator George Kivork offered remarks at the
Virginia gathering.
Fundraising at these events was coordinate through the ArmeniansforKerry.com
website that tracks and credits donations to the Kerry campaign from Armenian
American contributors.
"I was excited to see the high turnout at our House Party and am increasingly
encouraged by the growing Armenian interest in the Kerry campaign by
Democrats,
Independents, and even Republicans," said New England "Armenians for Kerry"
coordinator Sevag Arzoumanian. "When Armenian American voters take a moment to
contrast the Bush Administration's terrible record with Senator Kerry's
twenty-year track record of fighting for Armenian American issues, they see
that their choice is clear. Armenian Americans will go to the polls in record
numbers this November 2nd to help elect John Kerry as our next President."
In Watertown, Massachusetts, the Greater Boston "Armenians for Kerry"
committee hosted a casual yet informative event at the home of the Arzoumanian
family. Sevag Arzoumanian and Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
Eastern Region Chairman Dikran Kaligian addressed the importance of supporting
Kerry's bid for the presidency, and the unprecedented opportunity his
candidacy
offers to advance Armenian American issues, and strengthen US-Armenia
relations.
Guests had the opportunity to register to vote and to sign-up as volunteers
for the John Kerry campaign. They were also told of upcoming events, including
plans by New England "Armenians for Kerry" committees to hold "Armenstock" an
Armenian music festival at Camp Haiastan in Franklin, MA on August 28.
Burbank Board of Education Vice President Paul Krekorian and his wife Tamar
hosted the "Armenians for Kerry" House Party in Southern California. The
reception featured Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone
(D-NJ),
who spoke ardently about Kerry's strong record on issues of concern to the
Armenian American community.
"Here in California and across the country, Armenian Americans are
standing up
proudly today in support of John Kerry," explained Krekorian. "The
extraordinary outpouring of grassroots support at events like these
demonstrates that Armenian Americans clearly understand what is at stake in
this election. We have a historic choice this November. Senator Kerry offers
an unblemished pro-Armenian record and the prospect of the most pro-Armenian
administration since Woodrow Wilson. The Bush-Cheney team, on the other hand,
offers only the threat of four more years of unrelenting neglect of, and
outright assault on, the issues, interests, and values that are most important
to our nation's citizens of Armenian heritage."
Guests at the "Armenians for Kerry" House Party in Ridgewood, New discussed
the impact a Kerry election would have on Armenian Americans.
They reviewed Kerry's long record of support on Armenian American issues and
discussed his recent statements on the Armenian Genocide and the 86th
Anniversary of the founding of the First Armenian Republic.
"Armenians for Kerry" chapters across the US have also been meeting with
local
Kerry campaign leaders and coordinating participation in the campaign's
grassroots and get-out-the-vote activities. Some 20 chapters of "Armenians
for
Kerry" have already organized additional chapters that are in the formative
stages.
For more information about "Armenians for Kerry" and Senator Kerry's
record on
Armenian American issues, visit www.ArmeniansforKerry.com
"Armenians for Kerry" works in partnership with the Armenian American
Democratic Leadership Council (AADLC), a long-standing ethnic council of the
Democratic National Committee's National Democratic Ethnic Coordinating
Committee. The AADLC actively fosters support within the Armenian American
community for the Democratic Party and national Democratic office holders,
while promoting the election of Armenian American Democrats to political
office
and encouraging participation by Armenian American Democrats at all levels of
the public policy process.
6. A Year in The Life of Rose Alex Pilibos School
By Sanan Haroun
11th Grade
The 2003-2004 academic year was a very dynamic one for Rose & Alex Pilibos
Armenian School, with students participating in all sorts of new and fun
activitiesfrom the annual Science Fair to visiting Armenia, and also making
major athletic achievements. Students and teachers devoted a lot of energy and
long hours to make this school year a success. Let's take a quick glance at
life on North Alexandria Street.
STUDENT COUNCIL
Every year in the month of June, students take part in an election to choose
the members of next school year's Student Council. Our Student Council,
composed of two delegates from each class of sixth grade and higher, as
well as
an elected cabinet, worked on a number of events to make the school year
active, fun, and enjoyable. Throughout the year, the Council organized Friday
night dances, debates on current affairs, an amusing lip-synching contest, and
a special Valentine's Day gift sale.
A new event this year offered the opportunity to observe May 28 Armenian
Independence Day, with a celebration of Armenian culture with music, food, and
even dancing.
In addition to the two-on-two basketball and backgammon competitions, the
Student Council even managed to bring a water dunking booth and a huge
slide to
the campus.
SCIENCE FAIR
Another outstanding event was the science department's annual Science Fair.
Student projects were based on conducted experiments and the scientific
method.
Through experimentation, the projects sought to answer such questions as
"Which
household window cleaner is best?" and "Which gum flavor lasts the longest?"
Just in case you are wondering, according to scientific studies done by
Pilibos
students, the Winter Fresh gum's flavor will last the longest. . . Students,
therefore, got to learn about science-related resources outside of the
classroom and in daily life.
SCIENCE QUIZ BOWL
In February, Pilibos students also participated in the 2004 Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Science Quiz Bowl. The Quiz Bowl
consisted of two sections, a question and answer contest, and a "hands-on"
scientific trials competition. Among eleven thousand students from throughout
the country, nine Pilibos students participated in the regional competitions.
They sacrificed many lunch hours to prepare for the event; it obviously paid
off.
ACADEMIC PENTATHLON, DECATHLON
Having general knowledge is important to everyone right? That's exactly why
Pilibos gives students an option to enter the Southern California Private
Schools Academic Pentathlon and Decathlon. Regardless of their GPA, students
can enter the two competitions to participate in the scholastic activity. In
both the Pentathlon and the Decathlon, nine students in allthree A, three B,
and three C averagingtook part in learning various subjects.
In the Pentathlon for middle-school students, each of the nine students was
given five subjects: science, math, an essay section, literature, and a
super-quiz round.
For seventh graders, the super-quiz subject was African History; for eighth
graders, United States History.
Each of the nine High School students participating in the Decathlon had to
study to prepare for ten areas: art, music, math, economics, language and
literature, speech, an essay section, an interview section, science, and a
super-quiz round. The super-quiz round for the High School students this year
was the Journey of Louis and Clark.
The journey to prepare for the challenge began in September for Pilibos
students, and ran until early spring. Each and every day, and even on
Saturdays, information was crammed into their heads for hours on end.
Even over Christmas break, teachers and students alike left their cozy, warm
homes to come to school instead to prepare for this event.
The challenge proved to be rewarding. Pilibos students came out victorious,
placing first place in their division and third in the overall rankings.
MODEL UNITED NATIONS
This year the United Nations (UN) came to Pilibos for the first time.
Twenty-two Pilibos students represented the People's Republic of Korea at the
Model UN which took place at the University of California, Berkeley in March.
Each year approximately 200,000 high school and university students worldwide
take part in a variety of Model UN programs.
Throughout the weekend, students partook in a variety of issues and
discussions, and had the opportunity to also represent the Palestinian
Minister
of Security Affairs and the International Monetary Fund Governor for the
Russian Federation.
They drafted resolutions and delivered a position on diplomatic actions
during
the model session. Pilibos earned a commendation in the United Nation Drug
Control Policy Committee (UNDCP). As a diplomatic treat, after debating all
day long, students toured San Francisco.
THE SOCIAL ELEMENT
Life at Pilibos is not just academics, however; social events allow students
to hang out and kick back in a fun atmosphere. The annual Winter Formal and
Prom (with a French theme this year) for instance, proved to be a blast.
Students danced, ate and mingleduntil early hours of the morningall with
chaperones, of course.
ATHLETICS
Pilibos excelled in athletics as well; the Girl's Varsity Volleyball team,
Boy's and Girl's Varsity Basketball teams, and the Boy's Varsity Soccer team
made the 2003-2004 regional playoffs this year. Dedication, commitment, and
plenty of sweat produced great results.
Though competitions were fierce, Pilibos athletes were unstoppable. Let's not
forget to mention the Cheerleaders and Drill Team members who made the
half-time of basketball games entertaining with their cheers, stunts and,
choreographed dances. Over 30 high school girls spent most of their
after-school hours in the gym perfecting their maneuvers that ended up looking
great during show-time.
ARMENIA
In April, the 12th grade graduating class went on a remarkable and treasured
journey to Hayastan and Artsakh. Throughout their life, and especially at
Pilibos, the students learn about their country and ethnicity through
textbooks, classes, and photographs; the trip enabled them to see and
experience the homeland first hand. They met His Holiness Catholicos
Karekin II
in Etchmiadzeen, descended down the steps of Khor Virab Monastery, visited
military bases in Artsakh, and even managed to bring home a few gifts for the
school's new library. Their trip was amazing; word has it they are all
planning
to return to Hayastan next year.
NEW LIBRARY
This year one phenomenon at Pilibos was the opening of the new and high-tech
library. Nowadays, students have a great environment and atmosphere in
which to
study, research, and even read for funwith all sorts of resources at hand. The
library includes state-of-the-art electronic catalog system and a
check-in/check-out system. In addition to these technologies, the Pilibos
library also carries top of the line computers, allowing students to use the
electronic catalog, research on the web, or use useful programs. Now, there is
a quiet environment outside of the classroom walls, where students can explore
the Internet for useful information, learn, and even cram for tests and exams.
Rose & Alex Pilibos Armenian School allows students to make their academic
years and learning experience fun-filled, useful, and memorable. With a lot of
events going on, the students and teachers definitely need a summertime break.
However, Pilibos will be back in session this September for the 2004-2005
school yearso stay tuned for more exciting and fun events.
7. Glendale ANC, Community Leaders Welcome New GUSD Superintendent Escalante
GLENDALENewly selected GUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Escalante had the
opportunity on June 24 to meet and get to know area Armenian civic and
business
leaders, during a reception held in his honor by the Armenian National
Committee-Glendale Chapter.
In addition to Glendale Councilman Rafi Manoukian, many leaders in the field
of education also attended the reception, including GUSD Assistant
Superintendent Alice Petrossian, GUSD Board President Greg Krikorian, and
Glendale College Board of Trustees members Dr. Armine Hacopian and Ara James
Najarian.
It also provided Escalante his first opportunity to become acquainted with
not
only representatives of area Armenian organizations including the Armenian
National Committee, the Armenian Relief Society, and Homenetmen, but also with
Glendale City department heads and board members of Armenian descent.
"I have been to many receptions over the years," said Escalante, "but I have
to say that this is by far the most professional and elegant one I have ever
been a part of, and I can't thank you enough for opening your doors to me the
way that you have."
Glendale ANC chairman Artin Manoukian welcomed Escalante to his new position,
"We have a fantastic school district, and I am certain that he will maintain
the district's stellar reputation. We look forward to being a resource to Dr.
Escalante for issues concerning the tens of thousands of Armenian students in
the district."
Prior to accepting the position of Superintendent at GUSD, Escalante
served as
Superintendent of the Fullerton school district. Under his leadership, the
Fullerton district was able to establish new technology networks for all
schools, pass a $68 million general obligation bond for facilities, build new
school site facilities and modernize existing buildings, formulate policy on
the fair share of developers toward new facility costs, design and implement a
district-wide instructional initiative to improve teacher instruction and
student achievement, and reduce district overhead by $1.5 million annually in
centralized services, so funding could be directed into classrooms.
Escalante holds an EdD in educational leadership from the University of
Southern California, a MA degree in educational administration from Loyola
Marymount University, and a BA degree in history and industrial arts from San
Diego State University.
His career in public education began in 1973 as an elementary teacher in the
Hawthorne School District, where he also taught English as a second
language to
adult learners.
8. Art Exhibit A LIGHT WITHIN
July 9 to 11, Homenetmen Glendale 'Ararat' Chapter Hall
A Light Within exhibits the works of five talented Armenian women artists,
each displaying a personal uniqueness with a feminine touch.
The exhibit features a collection of images from multiple sources,
backgrounds, and emotions, with each work telling a different story.
The artwork of Adana, Alina, Lara, Armineh and Alenoush are diverse, yet
connect through a strong, ambitious light which can only emerge from within.
The exhibit runs Friday through Sunday, July 9 to 11 at the Homenetmen
Glendale "Ararat" Chapter's Baghdasarian-Shahinian Hall.
For further information visit <http://www.ararat.org/>www.ararat.org, or call
(323) 256-2564 weekdays after 2:00 pm
Exhibit address 3347 N. San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, California.
9. Five Armenian Chess-Players Rank Among FIDE's Top 100 List
YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--On July 1, FIDE published its rankings of the finest
chess-players of the world.
Leading the list was Garri Kasparov with an individual rating of 2817.
Kasparov was followed by Viswanathan Anand (India, individual rating of 2782),
Vladimir Kramnik (Russia, 2770), Alexander Morozevich (Russia, 2743), Peter
Leco (Hungary, 2741), Michael Adams (England, 2738), Veselin Topalov
(Bulgaria,
2737), Hudit Polgar (Hungary, 2728), Peter Svidler (Russia, 2727) and Alexey
Shirov (Spain, 2725).
Vladimir Hakobian of Armenia, with an individuals rating of 2692, ranks 17th
of the list. Four others representing Armenia--Levon Aronian (32nd, 2671),
Rafael Vahanian (53rd, 2642), Smbat Lputian, (60th, 2634) and Gabriel Sargsian
(88th, 2617)--also made it to the top 100 list.
Female Armenian chess champion, Elina Danielian, with a rating of 2430, was
ranked 31st in the Women's top 100 list. Hudit Polgar of Hungary was at the
top
of the list with a rating of 2728.
All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier
and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and
subscription requests.
(c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved.
ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for
academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through
mass media outlets.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
TOP STORIES
07/09/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <http://www.asbarez.com/>HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ.COM
1. Demonstration Planned Against Turkish Prime Minister in Paris
2. Youth Priority in ARF CC and Archbishop Mardirossian Meeting
3. South Ossetia Releases Georgian Peacekeepers
4. OSCE Accused of Meddling in Armenia's Affairs
5. 'Armenians for Kerry' House Parties Across The Nation
6. A Year in The Life of Rose Alex Pilibos School
7. Glendale ANC, Community Leaders Welcome New GUSD Superintendent Escalante
8. Art Exhibit A LIGHT WITHIN
9. Five Armenian Chess-Players Rank Among FIDE's Top 100 List
1. Demonstration Planned Against Turkish Prime Minister in Paris
Organized By ARF And ADL of France, with Support of French-Armenian
Coordinating Council
PARIS (Gamkonline)--In view of Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan's
upcoming
visit to France, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Armenian Democratic
League (Ramgavar party) have called on French Armenians to participate in a
mass demonstration against Turkeys' genocidal and denialist policies, on
Tuesday, July 20, at Place du Trocadero (Human Rights Square) in Paris.
In their announcement of the demonstration, the organized stated that the
undertaking has the support of the Paris and Rhône-Alpes French-Armenian
Coordinating Council as well as the Representative Council of Marseilles
Armenian Associations.
Prime Minister Erdogan will be in Paris July 19-20, after visiting Germany
and
Holland, in an attempt to secure France's support in December 2004 for
beginning talks regarding Turkey's accession to the European Union.
"At a time when French public opinion is negatively disposed toward Turkey's
accession the Union, particularly because of Turkey's denial of the Armenian
Genocide, we cannot accept the French people might be confronted by a decision
that is unacceptable to them," the organizers stated in their announcement.
"We cannot accept that genocidal and denialist Turkey might join a Europe of
memory and human rights. We cannot accept that a Turkish Premier will wage,
right before our eyes, a campaign of disinformation, to which acquiescent
media
outlets will give wide coverage."
French President Jacques Chirac will cast a decisive vote on behalf of France
in December regarding Turkey's accession. In the meantime, Turkey has
undertaken a massive public relations campaign in an attempt to show that it
meets the European Council's Copenhagen Criteria for accessionwithout,
however,
meeting the conditions set forth by the 18 June 1987 decision of the European
Parliament, which recognized the Armenian Genocide and called on Turkey to do
the same.
2. Youth Priority in ARF CC and Archbishop Mardirossian Meeting
A delegation representing the ARF Central Committee of the Western US paid an
official visit to the Armenian Prelacy on Wednesday, July 7, to congratulate
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian on his recent re-election as Prelate, for a
third term, by the National Representative Assembly.
The ARF delegation was headed by CC Representative Hovig Saliba. Also present
at the meeting were members of the Prelacy Executive Council, whom the ARF
reps
congratulated on their election as well, wishing them continued success.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views on issues of
concern to both the Church and community organizations. Discussions
centered on
bringing Armenian-American youth closer to the Church and other national
institutions, and in doing so to collaborate and coordinate efforts,
particularly in light of their shared goal of preserving Armenian identity and
enlisting the potential of the youth in the service of the Armenian people.
The Prelate and Executive Council members welcomed this initiative. The
delegation, in turn, reaffirmed both its deep confidence in the Prelate and
Council and its willingness to continue the mutual cooperation and coordinated
work in order to ensure the success of the Prelacy's undertakings.
3. South Ossetia Releases Georgian Peacekeepers
Prague (RFE-RL)--Separatist forces in South Ossetia on Friday freed dozens of
Georgian peacekeepers, a day after detaining and disarming them.
Irina Gagloeva, a spokeswoman for the South Ossetian government, said 35 of
the 38 peacekeepers were turned over to Georgian officials at a checkpoint
in a
village just south of the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, at midday.
Gagloeva said three peacekeepers remain in custody, accused of unspecified
"grave crimes."
But Mikheil Kebadze, the commander of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion in
South Ossetia stated that 36 peacekeepers were captured initially and that all
have been released:
"The first group of 32 were handed over to us, while four soldiers still
remained hostage," Kebadze said. "But five minutes later, they gave us those
four, as well. So, all 36 of the detained soldiers were released. [Minister of
Internal Affairs Irakli] Okruashvili was waiting for them. They were put into
buses and driven away. To where, I don't know. The soldiers were released
without any conditions, as had been agreed."
The Interior Ministry troops were seized when armed men entered the South
Ossetian village of Vanati--east of Tskhinvali and populated by ethnic
Georgians--and disarmed members of a peacekeeping force stationed there.
The capture of the troops and videotape of them--shown on Russian
television--kneeling in front of South Ossetian soldiers have further raised
tensions in the region.
Since his election in January, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has
secured the removal of the leader of another fractious region, Ajaria, and has
now set his sights on restoring central rule in both South Ossetia and
Abkhazia, a breakaway region on the Black Sea.
South Ossetia declared independence from Tbilisi after it fought a short
civil
war with Russian support in the early 1990s.
Tensions had already been high since Georgia sent troops to protect
antismuggling checkpoints in South Ossetia last month. The atmosphere worsened
on Wednesday when Georgian troops seized a convoy they said was carrying
rocket
launchers intended for separatists.
Russia said the weapons were meant for its peacekeeping troops.
Saakashvili today cut short a state visit to Iran and returned to Tbilisi,
where he headed into a meeting with his security ministers.
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania had earlier described the raid on
Vanati
as an "insolent provocation implemented personally by Ossetian separatist
leader Eduard Kokoity."
Kokoity's chief of staff, Eduard Kotayev, said on Thursday that those
captured
were not members of the peacekeeping force and that they had been captured
in a
zone manned by Russian peacekeepers.
But the secretary of Georgia's National Security Council, Gela Bezhuashvili,
said the capture of the Georgian peacekeepers was meant to preserve Kokoity's
authority.
"Kokoity's illegal government is losing support among its own people because
[Kokoity] is acting against his own people," Bezhuashvili said. "He is making
his own people hostage of his actions and in that way seeks to preserve his
own
authority."
Aleksandr Yakovenko, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, on 8 July
urged both sides to show maximum restraint.
In Washington on Thursday, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher called
for the soldiers' immediate release and said the United States condemned the
incident.
"We are encouraging all sides to work towards the immediate release of the
hostages and to take steps to reduce tensions," Boucher said. "We think that
intensified dialogue is the best way to a peaceful solution that ensures
Georgia's territorial integrity and avoids further violence."
Moscow aligns itself with the international view that both South Ossetia and
Abkhazia are part of Georgian territory. But it has often backed the two
provinces in disputes with Tbilisi and has granted many of their people
Russian
citizenship.
4. OSCE Accused of Meddling in Armenia's Affairs
VIENNA (RFE-RL)--Armenia has joined Russia and seven other ex-Soviet states in
accusing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) of
unjustly meddling in their internal affairs.
In a joint statement circulated at the OSCE's governing Permanent Council in
Vienna on Thursday, they complained that the 55-nation security organization,
of which they are all members, spends too much time monitoring elections and
human rights in the Commonwealth of Independent States.
"In part (the OSCE) does not respect such fundamental principles...as
non-interference in internal affairs and respect of national sovereignty,"
said
the statement signed by Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,
Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
"It is of concern that OSCE field missions focus not on their mandated
role to
help the authorities of the receiving state..., but exclusively on monitoring
human rights and democratic institutions," it added.
"The document did not come out of thin air," the spokesman for the Armenian
Foreign Ministry, Hamlet Gasparian, said on Friday. "There has long been
concern about the OSCE and a need for reform inside the OSCE."
Gasparian claimed that the OSCE "sometimes" acts beyond the framework of its
responsibilities in the former Soviet Union. "Whenever a certain organization
oversteps that boundary that is considered an interference in internal
affairs," he said.
The criticism was apparently initiated by the biggest and most influential
CIS
country, Russia. It has long accused the OSCE of applying double standards to
its member. Moscow is in particular unhappy with OSCE observers' criticism of
President Vladimir Putin's landslide reelection last March.
Other signatories of the statement, notably Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, have
long been ruled by autocratic leaders who are regularly denounced as gross
human rights offenders by international non-governmental watchdogs like
Amnesty
International and Human Rights Watch.
The OSCE has monitored the presidential and parliamentary elections held in
Armenia since independence and did not judge any of them to be democratic. Its
observers reported numerous instances of serious fraud such as ballot stuffing
and miscounting during last year's Armenian presidential vote.
Also, the OSCE's permanent office in Armenia has repeatedly criticized the
Armenian authorities' human rights record. It described as politically
motivated the arrests of several prominent opposition figures during the
recent
campaign of anti-government demonstrations in Yerevan and helped to secure
their release.
"We are not saying that human rights are not important," Gasparian said. "We
are talking about unbalanced approaches during electoral processes. There is a
misbalance of importance attached by the OSCE to various spheres and there is
inequality in its assessment of countries."
The Russian head of the OSCE office, Vladimir Pryakhin, declined on Friday to
comment on the CIS criticism of his organization.
Reacting to the statement, the European Union and the United States missions
to OSCE argued that human rights and rule-of-law issues can not be considered
internal affairs, the Associated Press reported. In a statement issued by the
Netherlands, which holds the rotating EU presidency, the union said it will
reflect on the issues raised by Russia and the others but added that it has
"serious concern about certain elements of the declaration."
Armenia committed itself to even stricter standards of democracy and human
rights when it joined the Council of Europe in 2001. In addition, Armenian
leaders announced last March that they are ready to assume additional
obligations on political reform in order to forge closer ties with the EU.
5. 'Armenians for Kerry' House Parties Across The Nation
WASHINGTON, DCGrassroots "Armenians for Kerry" committees joined over 1,100
homes nationwide in organizing events for the National John Kerry House Party
Day on June 26. The events constituted one of the largest coordinated
grassroots fundraising efforts for a presidential candidate in American
history.
"Armenians for Kerry" hosted seven house parties in communities large and
small across the United StatesArizona, California, Idaho, Massachusetts,
Nevada, and New Jersey. Each of the house parties was able to go onto a
conference call with Kerry who described his vision for the future of
America.
Previously, Armenian Democrats and supporters had joined together in
Arlington, Virginia for a House Party in May, bringing together activists from
the Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Southern Maryland. Kerry for
President Ethnic Outreach Coordinator George Kivork offered remarks at the
Virginia gathering.
Fundraising at these events was coordinate through the ArmeniansforKerry.com
website that tracks and credits donations to the Kerry campaign from Armenian
American contributors.
"I was excited to see the high turnout at our House Party and am increasingly
encouraged by the growing Armenian interest in the Kerry campaign by
Democrats,
Independents, and even Republicans," said New England "Armenians for Kerry"
coordinator Sevag Arzoumanian. "When Armenian American voters take a moment to
contrast the Bush Administration's terrible record with Senator Kerry's
twenty-year track record of fighting for Armenian American issues, they see
that their choice is clear. Armenian Americans will go to the polls in record
numbers this November 2nd to help elect John Kerry as our next President."
In Watertown, Massachusetts, the Greater Boston "Armenians for Kerry"
committee hosted a casual yet informative event at the home of the Arzoumanian
family. Sevag Arzoumanian and Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
Eastern Region Chairman Dikran Kaligian addressed the importance of supporting
Kerry's bid for the presidency, and the unprecedented opportunity his
candidacy
offers to advance Armenian American issues, and strengthen US-Armenia
relations.
Guests had the opportunity to register to vote and to sign-up as volunteers
for the John Kerry campaign. They were also told of upcoming events, including
plans by New England "Armenians for Kerry" committees to hold "Armenstock" an
Armenian music festival at Camp Haiastan in Franklin, MA on August 28.
Burbank Board of Education Vice President Paul Krekorian and his wife Tamar
hosted the "Armenians for Kerry" House Party in Southern California. The
reception featured Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone
(D-NJ),
who spoke ardently about Kerry's strong record on issues of concern to the
Armenian American community.
"Here in California and across the country, Armenian Americans are
standing up
proudly today in support of John Kerry," explained Krekorian. "The
extraordinary outpouring of grassroots support at events like these
demonstrates that Armenian Americans clearly understand what is at stake in
this election. We have a historic choice this November. Senator Kerry offers
an unblemished pro-Armenian record and the prospect of the most pro-Armenian
administration since Woodrow Wilson. The Bush-Cheney team, on the other hand,
offers only the threat of four more years of unrelenting neglect of, and
outright assault on, the issues, interests, and values that are most important
to our nation's citizens of Armenian heritage."
Guests at the "Armenians for Kerry" House Party in Ridgewood, New discussed
the impact a Kerry election would have on Armenian Americans.
They reviewed Kerry's long record of support on Armenian American issues and
discussed his recent statements on the Armenian Genocide and the 86th
Anniversary of the founding of the First Armenian Republic.
"Armenians for Kerry" chapters across the US have also been meeting with
local
Kerry campaign leaders and coordinating participation in the campaign's
grassroots and get-out-the-vote activities. Some 20 chapters of "Armenians
for
Kerry" have already organized additional chapters that are in the formative
stages.
For more information about "Armenians for Kerry" and Senator Kerry's
record on
Armenian American issues, visit www.ArmeniansforKerry.com
"Armenians for Kerry" works in partnership with the Armenian American
Democratic Leadership Council (AADLC), a long-standing ethnic council of the
Democratic National Committee's National Democratic Ethnic Coordinating
Committee. The AADLC actively fosters support within the Armenian American
community for the Democratic Party and national Democratic office holders,
while promoting the election of Armenian American Democrats to political
office
and encouraging participation by Armenian American Democrats at all levels of
the public policy process.
6. A Year in The Life of Rose Alex Pilibos School
By Sanan Haroun
11th Grade
The 2003-2004 academic year was a very dynamic one for Rose & Alex Pilibos
Armenian School, with students participating in all sorts of new and fun
activitiesfrom the annual Science Fair to visiting Armenia, and also making
major athletic achievements. Students and teachers devoted a lot of energy and
long hours to make this school year a success. Let's take a quick glance at
life on North Alexandria Street.
STUDENT COUNCIL
Every year in the month of June, students take part in an election to choose
the members of next school year's Student Council. Our Student Council,
composed of two delegates from each class of sixth grade and higher, as
well as
an elected cabinet, worked on a number of events to make the school year
active, fun, and enjoyable. Throughout the year, the Council organized Friday
night dances, debates on current affairs, an amusing lip-synching contest, and
a special Valentine's Day gift sale.
A new event this year offered the opportunity to observe May 28 Armenian
Independence Day, with a celebration of Armenian culture with music, food, and
even dancing.
In addition to the two-on-two basketball and backgammon competitions, the
Student Council even managed to bring a water dunking booth and a huge
slide to
the campus.
SCIENCE FAIR
Another outstanding event was the science department's annual Science Fair.
Student projects were based on conducted experiments and the scientific
method.
Through experimentation, the projects sought to answer such questions as
"Which
household window cleaner is best?" and "Which gum flavor lasts the longest?"
Just in case you are wondering, according to scientific studies done by
Pilibos
students, the Winter Fresh gum's flavor will last the longest. . . Students,
therefore, got to learn about science-related resources outside of the
classroom and in daily life.
SCIENCE QUIZ BOWL
In February, Pilibos students also participated in the 2004 Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Science Quiz Bowl. The Quiz Bowl
consisted of two sections, a question and answer contest, and a "hands-on"
scientific trials competition. Among eleven thousand students from throughout
the country, nine Pilibos students participated in the regional competitions.
They sacrificed many lunch hours to prepare for the event; it obviously paid
off.
ACADEMIC PENTATHLON, DECATHLON
Having general knowledge is important to everyone right? That's exactly why
Pilibos gives students an option to enter the Southern California Private
Schools Academic Pentathlon and Decathlon. Regardless of their GPA, students
can enter the two competitions to participate in the scholastic activity. In
both the Pentathlon and the Decathlon, nine students in allthree A, three B,
and three C averagingtook part in learning various subjects.
In the Pentathlon for middle-school students, each of the nine students was
given five subjects: science, math, an essay section, literature, and a
super-quiz round.
For seventh graders, the super-quiz subject was African History; for eighth
graders, United States History.
Each of the nine High School students participating in the Decathlon had to
study to prepare for ten areas: art, music, math, economics, language and
literature, speech, an essay section, an interview section, science, and a
super-quiz round. The super-quiz round for the High School students this year
was the Journey of Louis and Clark.
The journey to prepare for the challenge began in September for Pilibos
students, and ran until early spring. Each and every day, and even on
Saturdays, information was crammed into their heads for hours on end.
Even over Christmas break, teachers and students alike left their cozy, warm
homes to come to school instead to prepare for this event.
The challenge proved to be rewarding. Pilibos students came out victorious,
placing first place in their division and third in the overall rankings.
MODEL UNITED NATIONS
This year the United Nations (UN) came to Pilibos for the first time.
Twenty-two Pilibos students represented the People's Republic of Korea at the
Model UN which took place at the University of California, Berkeley in March.
Each year approximately 200,000 high school and university students worldwide
take part in a variety of Model UN programs.
Throughout the weekend, students partook in a variety of issues and
discussions, and had the opportunity to also represent the Palestinian
Minister
of Security Affairs and the International Monetary Fund Governor for the
Russian Federation.
They drafted resolutions and delivered a position on diplomatic actions
during
the model session. Pilibos earned a commendation in the United Nation Drug
Control Policy Committee (UNDCP). As a diplomatic treat, after debating all
day long, students toured San Francisco.
THE SOCIAL ELEMENT
Life at Pilibos is not just academics, however; social events allow students
to hang out and kick back in a fun atmosphere. The annual Winter Formal and
Prom (with a French theme this year) for instance, proved to be a blast.
Students danced, ate and mingleduntil early hours of the morningall with
chaperones, of course.
ATHLETICS
Pilibos excelled in athletics as well; the Girl's Varsity Volleyball team,
Boy's and Girl's Varsity Basketball teams, and the Boy's Varsity Soccer team
made the 2003-2004 regional playoffs this year. Dedication, commitment, and
plenty of sweat produced great results.
Though competitions were fierce, Pilibos athletes were unstoppable. Let's not
forget to mention the Cheerleaders and Drill Team members who made the
half-time of basketball games entertaining with their cheers, stunts and,
choreographed dances. Over 30 high school girls spent most of their
after-school hours in the gym perfecting their maneuvers that ended up looking
great during show-time.
ARMENIA
In April, the 12th grade graduating class went on a remarkable and treasured
journey to Hayastan and Artsakh. Throughout their life, and especially at
Pilibos, the students learn about their country and ethnicity through
textbooks, classes, and photographs; the trip enabled them to see and
experience the homeland first hand. They met His Holiness Catholicos
Karekin II
in Etchmiadzeen, descended down the steps of Khor Virab Monastery, visited
military bases in Artsakh, and even managed to bring home a few gifts for the
school's new library. Their trip was amazing; word has it they are all
planning
to return to Hayastan next year.
NEW LIBRARY
This year one phenomenon at Pilibos was the opening of the new and high-tech
library. Nowadays, students have a great environment and atmosphere in
which to
study, research, and even read for funwith all sorts of resources at hand. The
library includes state-of-the-art electronic catalog system and a
check-in/check-out system. In addition to these technologies, the Pilibos
library also carries top of the line computers, allowing students to use the
electronic catalog, research on the web, or use useful programs. Now, there is
a quiet environment outside of the classroom walls, where students can explore
the Internet for useful information, learn, and even cram for tests and exams.
Rose & Alex Pilibos Armenian School allows students to make their academic
years and learning experience fun-filled, useful, and memorable. With a lot of
events going on, the students and teachers definitely need a summertime break.
However, Pilibos will be back in session this September for the 2004-2005
school yearso stay tuned for more exciting and fun events.
7. Glendale ANC, Community Leaders Welcome New GUSD Superintendent Escalante
GLENDALENewly selected GUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Escalante had the
opportunity on June 24 to meet and get to know area Armenian civic and
business
leaders, during a reception held in his honor by the Armenian National
Committee-Glendale Chapter.
In addition to Glendale Councilman Rafi Manoukian, many leaders in the field
of education also attended the reception, including GUSD Assistant
Superintendent Alice Petrossian, GUSD Board President Greg Krikorian, and
Glendale College Board of Trustees members Dr. Armine Hacopian and Ara James
Najarian.
It also provided Escalante his first opportunity to become acquainted with
not
only representatives of area Armenian organizations including the Armenian
National Committee, the Armenian Relief Society, and Homenetmen, but also with
Glendale City department heads and board members of Armenian descent.
"I have been to many receptions over the years," said Escalante, "but I have
to say that this is by far the most professional and elegant one I have ever
been a part of, and I can't thank you enough for opening your doors to me the
way that you have."
Glendale ANC chairman Artin Manoukian welcomed Escalante to his new position,
"We have a fantastic school district, and I am certain that he will maintain
the district's stellar reputation. We look forward to being a resource to Dr.
Escalante for issues concerning the tens of thousands of Armenian students in
the district."
Prior to accepting the position of Superintendent at GUSD, Escalante
served as
Superintendent of the Fullerton school district. Under his leadership, the
Fullerton district was able to establish new technology networks for all
schools, pass a $68 million general obligation bond for facilities, build new
school site facilities and modernize existing buildings, formulate policy on
the fair share of developers toward new facility costs, design and implement a
district-wide instructional initiative to improve teacher instruction and
student achievement, and reduce district overhead by $1.5 million annually in
centralized services, so funding could be directed into classrooms.
Escalante holds an EdD in educational leadership from the University of
Southern California, a MA degree in educational administration from Loyola
Marymount University, and a BA degree in history and industrial arts from San
Diego State University.
His career in public education began in 1973 as an elementary teacher in the
Hawthorne School District, where he also taught English as a second
language to
adult learners.
8. Art Exhibit A LIGHT WITHIN
July 9 to 11, Homenetmen Glendale 'Ararat' Chapter Hall
A Light Within exhibits the works of five talented Armenian women artists,
each displaying a personal uniqueness with a feminine touch.
The exhibit features a collection of images from multiple sources,
backgrounds, and emotions, with each work telling a different story.
The artwork of Adana, Alina, Lara, Armineh and Alenoush are diverse, yet
connect through a strong, ambitious light which can only emerge from within.
The exhibit runs Friday through Sunday, July 9 to 11 at the Homenetmen
Glendale "Ararat" Chapter's Baghdasarian-Shahinian Hall.
For further information visit <http://www.ararat.org/>www.ararat.org, or call
(323) 256-2564 weekdays after 2:00 pm
Exhibit address 3347 N. San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, California.
9. Five Armenian Chess-Players Rank Among FIDE's Top 100 List
YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--On July 1, FIDE published its rankings of the finest
chess-players of the world.
Leading the list was Garri Kasparov with an individual rating of 2817.
Kasparov was followed by Viswanathan Anand (India, individual rating of 2782),
Vladimir Kramnik (Russia, 2770), Alexander Morozevich (Russia, 2743), Peter
Leco (Hungary, 2741), Michael Adams (England, 2738), Veselin Topalov
(Bulgaria,
2737), Hudit Polgar (Hungary, 2728), Peter Svidler (Russia, 2727) and Alexey
Shirov (Spain, 2725).
Vladimir Hakobian of Armenia, with an individuals rating of 2692, ranks 17th
of the list. Four others representing Armenia--Levon Aronian (32nd, 2671),
Rafael Vahanian (53rd, 2642), Smbat Lputian, (60th, 2634) and Gabriel Sargsian
(88th, 2617)--also made it to the top 100 list.
Female Armenian chess champion, Elina Danielian, with a rating of 2430, was
ranked 31st in the Women's top 100 list. Hudit Polgar of Hungary was at the
top
of the list with a rating of 2728.
All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier
and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and
subscription requests.
(c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved.
ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for
academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through
mass media outlets.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress