Reporters on the Job

from the May 21, 2007 edition

• Who Are You? While in Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory claimed by Azerbaijan and populated mostly by Armenians, correspondent Nicole Itano was struck by two things. First, while talking to young Armenians about their future, she expected them to tell her that their most important ally was the US (see story). "Surprisingly, they said it was Russia," says Nicole. "The older generations all speak Russian. Fewer of the younger ones do, but many of them know people who have migrated to Russia for work. They don't need a visa to go there."

The other surprise? How often she was asked about her ethnicity during interviews. "They knew I was American, but asked about my ethnicity. I'm half Japanese, half Mexican. But, because of my surname, they thought I might be Italian. The question seems important here because ethnicity is more important to Armenians than nationality. If you're Armenian, your defining identity is not found in your passport or your place of citizenship."

– David Clark Scott
World editor

This week's look ahead

• Monday, May 21: Havana – North Dakota state agriculture commissioner to arrive with delegation of North Dakota food exporters to finish signing contracts with Cuba worth $20 million.

• Thursday, May 24: Dublin, Ireland – Elections for new 166-seat parliament, with polls pointing to tight race between governing coalition and the opposition alliance.

• Friday, May 25: Sale, Morocco – Trial resumes for 58 alleged Islamic terrorists accused of plotting to attack military and tourist sites in North African nation.

– Associated Press

Don’t try this at home: A Filipino boy tries to guide a peso coin from his forehead to his mouth without using his hands in a contest Sunday during the St. Rita feast near Manila. Aaron Favila/AP More cultural snapshots

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