1993_03 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper March 1993

              The Newspaper of the California State University, Fresno
Armenian Students Organization & Armenian Studies Program
Fresno, CA 93740
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Non-Profit
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Permit No. 263
Fresno, CA.
March 1993
Vol. 14, No. 3 (43)
Supplement to the Daily Collegian
OPERATION WINTER RESCUE
By Marlene Bryant
Staff Writer
Dateline Armenia: More than thirty-thousand Armenians are in danger of perishing
due to the harsh winter conditions in Armenia. The population growth in the last eleven
months of J 992 has been 1.1%, represented
by 60,688 births versus 20, 324 deaths;
while in 1991 the growth rate was 15% 425
deaths.
The Azerbaijani imposed blockade of Armenia as prevented the transportation of
food, fuel and medication inot Armenia for
the past four years. More money and supplies are needed to help the people suffering
in Armenia.
On January 24, the Armenian Community
Council ofthe San Joaquin Valley issued a
press release is response to an urgent humanitarian appeal from the Embassy of the
Republic of Armenia. Armenian churches
and community organizations in Fresno and
the San Joaquin Valley are serving as collection sites for the collection of food(non-
perishable), blankets and sleeping bags,
See Winter Rescue, page 6
H.R. 86 Aid to Armenia
By Khatchig Jingirian
 Staff Writer	
For the past three weeks, the ANCA
along with the Armenian Assembly of
America have been working closely with
Congressman David Bonior (D) (MI) to
pass House Resolution 86. The Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA) is
a grass-roots, public affairs organization
which promotes Armenian issues in American government, with offices around the
world. The resolution, introduced on February 17, 1993 and sponsored by Bonior, condemns the blockade of Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabagh fartsakh) by
Azerbaijan..
So far, forty-eight congressmen have co-
sponsored the resolition, fifteen from California. They are Xavier Becerra, Anthony
Beilenson, Gary Condit, Calvin Dooley,
Anna Eshou, Elton Gallegly, Tom Lantos,
Richard Lehman, Mathew Martinez, Carlos
Moorhead, Dana Rohrabacher, Edward
Royce, Esteban Torres, Henrey Waxman,
and Lynn Woollsey. The list of co-sponsors
grows daily as more congressmen sign on
to help.
Romina Khachadourian, a staff
member of the ANCA's Glendale office
stated that the resolution has six main points
which need attention:
1. Continued U.S. humanitarian assistance
for Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh;
2. To promote a lasting resolution to the
conflict;
3. To promote the full participation of the
representatives from Nagorno-Karabagh in
all negotiations;
4. To encourage Turkey to play a neutral
role in the conflict;
5. To condemn and demand the immediate
lifting of the blockade of Armenian and
Nagorno-Karabagh by Azerbaijan;
6. Continued pursuit of the freedom support
act by the U.S. This act, passed by the U.S.
a year ago, prevents assistance to Azerbaijan
until the blockade is lifted.
The ANCA and the Arenian Assembly are urging all Armenians to write or
call their congressmen to ask for their support for House Resolution 86.
Inside Hve Sharzhoom ,
What Makes You An Armenian? Page 2
A Trip You'll Never Forget.. Page 3
Lecture Series Page 4
Cooking Section Page 4
Community Events Page 6
r
OPERATION WINTER RESCUE
Your tax-deductable donation will be used to purchase the
following bulk itmes: * FOOD* MEDICINE* INFANT FORMULA.
Please makes checks payable to:
Armenian Church-Operation Winter Rescue
Armenian Community Council
P.O. Box 11844
Fresno, California 93775
Armenian Community Council
to the Rescue
By Nina Momjian
Staff Writer
"Operation Winter Rescue," launched by
the Republic of Armenia and the Fund for
Democracy and Development, is currently
providing Armenia with bare necessities,
with the aid of the Armenian Community
Council (ACC) of the San Joaquin Valley,
which is composed of over 40 Armenian
organizations.
The Armenian Community Council was formed as a response to the tragic
earthquake in Armenian in 1988. Since
then, the ACC has coordinated earthquake
aid and has held commemorations for April
24th. "Operation Winter Rescue," their
current project, was organized along with
other local chapters of Armenian organizations in the San Joaquin Valley area, to send
necessary items such as canned foods, clothing, blankets, and sleeping bags to the people
of Armenia in hopes for them to survive
through the notorious winter season.
The ACC executive council consists of seven executive members. Chairman Barlow Der Mugrdechian says they are
open for any representatives from churches,
political parties, benevolent, and social organizations to participate. The general meetings are open and organizational representatives are welcomed.
Der Mugrdechian says that one of
the goals of the ACC is to unite the community for celebrating October Cultural Month
and September 21st as Armenian Independence Day. "We would like everyone to
have the sense of working together to achieve
more, and to heighten awareness among
non-Armenians," says Der Mugrdechian.
Some ofthe ACC's long term goals
are for the community to have a representative from more organizations,to speak on
behalf of the community, and to disseminate
information to organizations. For further
information, Barlow Der Mugrdechian can
be reached at (209) 278-2669 in the Armenian Studies Program at California State
University, Fresno.
Members of the executive board of the Armenian Community Council meeting
with Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) to discuss the situation in Armenia.
Left to Right: Bob DerMugrdechian, Rev. Karl Avakian, Senator Barbara Boxer]
Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Richard Darmanian, Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian.