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  • ASBAREZ Online [03-10-2004]

    ASBAREZ ONLINE
    TOP STORIES
    03/10/2004
    TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
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    1) US Addresses Turkish Worries about Iraq Constitution
    2) Chamlian School's Banquet a Night of Success and Hope
    3) Kocharian Comes Face-to-face with University Students
    4) US Ambassador Meets With ARF Representatives
    5) Police Identify Armenian Cemetery Vandals

    1) US Addresses Turkish Worries about Iraq Constitution

    ANKARA (AFP)--A senior US envoy will meet with Turkish officials to discuss
    Ankara's concerns over the new interim constitution of Iraq, reported Turkish
    and US sources.
    Ronald Newmann, a member of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in
    Iraq,
    was asked by US Secretary of State Colin Powell to go to Ankara after Turkey
    publicly criticized the interim constitution, signed in Baghdad on Monday, a
    Turkish diplomat told AFP.
    Turkey has warned that it would pave the way for more instability in the
    neighboring country. "The interim law does not satisfy us; it increases our
    concerns," said Turkish government spokesman, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek.
    Turkey has repeatedly warned against moves in postwar Iraq that could help
    the
    Iraqi Kurds enhance self-rule in the north of the country.
    Under the interim constitution, Iraqi Kurdistan will retain federal status
    and
    the rest of Iraq will be given the right to begin forming states.
    Turkey fears that increased political influence of Iraqi Kurds could set an
    example for their restive cousins in southeast Turkey where a bloody Kurdish
    rebellion has only recently been quelled.


    2) Chamlian School's Banquet a Night of Success and Hope

    GLENDALE--Over 500 parents, alumni, teachers, and friends of Chamlian Armenian
    School gathered on February 28, at the Homenetmen Ararat Chapter center to
    fundraise for the school, and mark its many accomplishments. Western Prelate
    Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, and Glendale Mayor Frank Quintero were among
    the guests of honor.
    Emcees Nova Hindoyan and Aida Yeghiazarian, kicked off the night with a
    silent
    auction that raised over $8,000.
    In his remarks, Archbiship Mardirossian urged the audience to "complete the
    cafeteria project and move on to bigger projects such as establishing a high
    school."
    The climax of the evening came, however, as Chamlian principal Vazken
    Madenlian announced that a special committee dedicated to the Chamlian High
    School project has been formed, and that $250,000 has already been collected
    towards the goal.
    Guest welcomed the joyous news, and enthusiastically donated $106,000 for the
    renovation of the school cafeteria.
    Guests danced and celebrated to the music of popular singer Ashod and his
    band. "This was a great evening," one guest said, "not only did we have a lot
    of fun, but it was for a great cause."


    3) Kocharian Comes Face-to-face with University Students

    YEREVAN (RFE/RL, Yerkir)--University students from throughout Armenia gathered
    at Yerevan State University on Wednesday to meet President Robert Kocharian,
    and pose questions on issues of concern.
    Asked about the process of settling the Karabagh conflict, Kocharian said
    during his term in office, Armenia has accepted several proposals put forth by
    mediators, while Azerbaijan has rejected them. "I have dedicated 15 years
    of my
    life to the Karabagh issue, and I will pursue it all the way through,"
    Kocharian said.
    Referring to Azerbaijan's unapologetic and even defensive position on the
    murder of an Armenian officer by an Azeri counterpart, the president said it
    reinforces the fact that Armenophobia has reached its peak in that country.
    "We
    are, once again, convinced that Karabagh cannot--under any condition--be a
    part
    of Azerbaijan."
    Asked about opposition claims that Armenia remains gripped by a political
    crisis, Kocharian explained that in 2003, Armenia registered record economic
    growth, accompanied by improving public services. He cited a 13.9 increase in
    GDP, which was the highest in the Commonwealth of Independent States. "To
    describe as crisis the situation in a country where economic growth has
    reached
    13.9 percent and where all the indicators testify to quite interesting
    developments, is at least, tantamount to not understanding what a crisis
    means."
    It was the Armenian leader's first visit to the country's largest university
    since last month's student protests against a controversial government bill on
    military service. The bill, which would have allowed the military to draft
    graduate and doctoral students, was eventually withdrawn from parliament.
    Kocharian acknowledged that the proposed legislation should have undergone a
    detailed public debate before being submitted to the National Assembly, and
    revealed his support for compulsory military service for all young men,
    including his two sons.


    4) US Ambassador Meets With ARF Representatives

    YEREVAN (Yerkir)--US Ambassador to Armenia John Ordway met with
    representatives
    of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation at the ARF Simon Vratsian center on
    Wednesday, in an effort to understand the party's position on national and
    regional issues, and engage in a two-way exchange.
    ARF Armenia Supreme Body representative Armen Rustamian, ARF Bureau member
    and
    National Assembly vice-speaker Vahan Hovhannisian, and ARF faction leader in
    the National Assembly Levon Mkrtchian, met with Ordway, where political and
    regional developments in Armenia, as well as the National Assembly and the
    opposition dominated discussions.
    The ambassador remarked that the meeting was fruitful in understanding the
    party's stance on these issues.
    Ambassador Ordway frequently meets with the ARF and other political
    parties to
    better grasp the positions of political forces, and to also present the US
    position on democracy, the market economy, as well as regional security.


    5) Police Identify Armenian Cemetery Vandals

    KRASNODAR (Armenpress)--Local police have identified the group of youth who
    desecrated Armenian gravestones at the Krasnodar Slavonic cemetery on March 2,
    reported Yerkramas, a weekly paper published by the Armenian community of the
    southern Russian province.
    The culprits are eight youth between the ages of 13 and 16. Police said their
    parents will have to pay for restoring the damaged tombs.
    A similar act of vandalism in 2002 sparked strong condemnation by the
    Armenian
    government and leading politicians concerned with the escalating ethnic
    tensions in the southern Russia.
    In April 2002, approximately 50 youths ravaged gravestones and monuments at
    the Armenian cemetery in Krasnodar. Though the local police at the time
    announced the arrest of three Russian youngsters between the ages of 14 and 17
    on suspicion of involvement, all managed to avoid punishment.


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