PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
REPRESENTATIVES OF WORLD VISION VISIT CILICIAN CATHOLICOSATE
Antelias, Lebanon – Representatives of World Vision visited His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, in Antelias, Lebanon, on Tuesday, November 2.
Also in attendance was Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, Primate of Lebanon.
The representatives presented an overview of their various international
programs. His Holiness praised their work and emphasized the importance of
the organization working together with the churches.
World Vision International, established in 1950, is a Christian relief and
development organization working for the well being of all people,
especially children. World Vision helps communities help themselves through
emergency relief, education, health care, economic development and promotion
of justice.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
STUDENTS OF BIRDS’ NEST ORPHANAGE VISIT HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
Antelias, Lebanon – Children ranging in age from 3 to 13, residents of the
Birds’ Nest orphanage attended services at the Cathedral of St. Gregory the
Illuminator in Antelias, Lebanon, and received the blessings of His Holiness
Aram I. Following the Divine Liturgy, the students performed for His
Holiness and others in attendance. The children’s chorus performed Armenian
Church hymns, as well as national and spiritual songs. On behalf of the
children, words of thanks were extended to His Holiness for his fatherly
care. His Holiness thanked the administrators of the Birds’ Nest for their
devoted service.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

OVERCOME PROVINCIALISM
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
05 Nov 04
The new academic year will be a turning point for the Institute of
Applied Arts after Gyurjian. Rector Youri Hovhannissian said the
institute adopts the system of higher education adopted almost
everywhere, as well as in Armeniaand Karabakh. However, the rector
mentioned, during the transition the peculiarities of the institute
must be taken into account. Certain courses will be shortened, others
enlarged. For the adequate implementation of this processthey invited
from Yerevan experienced designer, member of the international Union
of Designers and the Union of Designers of Armenia, founding director
of `Anahit Shafarian’ Ltd. Anahit Shafarian. Anahit cooperated with
the institute in the past as well, but now when the institute is
facing such a serious task, the help of the specialist is vitally
necessary. Mrs. Shafarian follows the lessons in all subjects, her
observations and suggestions are discussed by the arts council and
only then the final variant of the syllabus is confirmed. At her
suggestion the direction of the institute used their right to change
partlythe obligatory curriculum (by 5 per cent) and introduced 2 new
subjects: the study of colours and art design. Approaches to the
traditional subjects were reconsidered. Certain subjects, such as
technical modelling which used to be studied superficially now will be
studied profoundly. According to Anahit Shafarian, the institute has
the right to use individual syllabuses, therefore the syllabuses are
considered presently, and the history of fashion design is also
included, which will use information from Russian and international
periodicals, such as `International Textiles’, `Official’. Speaking
about the reasons for fundamental changes, the rector of the institute
said, `Frankly speaking I am not satisfied with what we have achieved
during the existence of the institute. Although it is not too
little. The evidence to this is the full halls during the summer
defiles of our graduates. Recognizing the requirements of modern
business we set a goal for ourselves to raise the level of our
professionalism according to international standards. I am not afraid
to say that we must step out of provincialism.’
SUSANNA BALAYAN.
05-11-2004

Armenian paper unruffled by Bush’s election victory
Novoye Vremya, Yerevan
4 Nov 04

The elections in the USA have helped the Armenian diaspora in this
country to demonstrate power of its political potential.
A candidate for presidency supported by the Armenian diaspora of the
USA was defeated. Will [Senator] John Kerry’s defeat have an impact on
relations of the Armenian diaspora leaders with the White House?
Ethnic Armenian members of the Republican Party, who despite their
party affiliation have campaigned for the Democrats, have been
concerned about this from the very beginning. A 1996 scenario was
actually repeated when all the Armenians of the USA openly supported
the Republican candidate, Bob Dole, who was competing with Bill
Clinton re-elected for the second term.
That time the head of the White House did not take revenge on the
Armenians. No special problems occurred. So, I think we should not be
scared that the Republican administration will remind the leadership
of the Armenian organizations of their “disloyalty”. [US President]
George Bush was ignoring the interests of his ethnic Armenian citizens
during his first tenure. For this reason, anything would hardly change
after his re-election. It would not be worse than it is now.
Despite John Kerry’s defeat, these elections may, nevertheless, be
called a small victory of the Armenians. The point is that the
Armenian organizations managed to demonstrate their powerful political
potential to the US establishment. The Armenians have never managed to
mobilize such a huge financial and human resources for the
elections. It may be described as a coincidence, but the fact is that
Kerry won an impressive victory in the states where the Armenian
organizations had the strongest position (California, Massachusetts,
Illinois, Pennsylvania).
The Armenians supported John Kerry realizing that his rival had more
chances to win, as the powerful administrative resources backed the
latter. Experience shows that the campaigning against the acting
president is often unsuccessful. But pro-Armenian candidates used to
compete with the acting presidents. This occurred at the 1996
elections as well, the outcome of which disappointed us. But in that
case it was more important to maintain adherence to principles. From
this viewpoint, the Armenians won as well.
The elections to the Senate and the House of Representatives were held
along with the presidential elections on Sunday [as published]. The
Armenians have always attached more importance to the Congress rather
than the [presidential] administration as it is more difficult to
influence the former. John Kerry’s defeat could be compensated by
success of the pro-Armenian congressmen and senators.
The seats of a third of the senators and of all 435 members of the
House of Representatives were contested. The majority of the so-called
Armenian group of the Congress “renewed” their mandates and will
continue the legislative activity. The average index of the acting
congressmen’s re-election is about 85 per cent. At previous elections,
92 per cent of the “Armenian group” members “renewed” their
mandates. An outcome is not known yet. On the eve of the elections the
Armenian Assembly of America and the Armenian National Committee of
America disseminated the list of candidates whose candidacies were
recommended for support. Their purpose was to preserve the current
number of the pro-Armenian congressmen (there are 133 members in the
“Armenian group” now).
[Passage omitted: reiteration]

Armenian company leads talks on chemical giant’s future
Mediamax news agency
5 Nov 04
YEREVAN
The Armenian company Flash will from now on conduct talks with Russian
investors on the sale of chemical giant Nairit, Armenian Central Bank
Chairman Tigran Sarkisyan told a briefing in Yerevan today.
Tigran Sarkisyan recalled that Nairit’s shares belong 100 per cent to
Haykapbank [Armenian communications bank] and the Flash company is
carrying out the programme to revive the bank, Mediamax reports. The
programme to revive the bank is supervised by the IMF, which is
demanding that the process be finished by the end of this year.
Mediamax news agency recalls that on 16 April this year an agreement
was signed at the Armenian Central Bank on the sale of 100 per cent of
Haykapbank’s shares to Russia’s Volgaburmash holding
company. Addressing a briefing after the signing of the agreement,
Volgaburmash representative Mikhail Zavertyayev said that the
restoration of Nairit’s position on the Russian synthetic rubber
market was the priority for the holding company. For reasons of
commercial confidentiality Zavertyayev refused to disclose the cost of
the deal to acquire Nairit’s shares. He said that Volgaburmash had
worked out a draft project on the reconstruction of the enterprise,
aimed at resuming the production of bu tadiene at Nairit. Mikhail
Zavertyayev said that since 2003 Volgaburmash had invested 3.5m
dollars in Nairit.
Tigran Sarkisyan said today that the Russian holding company had
demanded that the revival programme for Haykapbank be prolonged for
four months, but, taking into account the commitments before the IMF,
the Armenian side had not given its consent to this and had “decided
to implement the revival programme with another investor, the Armenian
Flash company”.
The Central Bank chairman said that Flash had invested more than 1m
dollars in the bank and had finished the revival process. Tigran
Sarkisyan said that Flash was now conducting talks directly with the
Russian side on Nairit’s fate.
He said that for four months the Russian side would be studying
Nairit’s technical possibilities and would make a corresponding
decision. Tigran Sarkisyan said that the 100 per cent of shares in
Nairit were reflected in Haykapbank’s balance sheet at the nominal
price of 14.2m dollars. The bank has to realize these assets in the
next six months, according to current Armenian legislation.

NATO secretary-general visits Azerbaijan
ANS Radio, Baku
5 Nov 04

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has begun an official
visit to Baku, Azerbaijani radio station ANS has reported. It is the
secretary-general’s first visit since NATO cancelled military
exercises in Azerbaijan in September, because Armenian officers were
denied entry to Baku.
Asked about a forthcoming NATO seminar in Baku, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
said that Armenian MPs should be able to attend the meeting, ANS
reported. “The holding of the Rose-Roth seminar is outside the NATO
secretary-general’s sphere,” Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said. “If the issue
was within the purview of the NATO secretary-general, as previously my
position would not change. My position is that the attendance of any
guests is admissible at this kind of seminar.”
In the morning of 5 November Jaap de Hoop Scheffer paid his respects
at the grave of former Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev and
Martyrs’ Avenue, where those killed by Soviet troops in 1990 and some
of the Karabakh war dead are buried. The NATO secretary-general also
met students and professors at Baku State University. Later in the day
he is to hold talks with Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and
Defence Minister Safar Abiyev and to meet President Ilham Aliyev.

NATO chief backs Armenian attendance at Baku-hosted seminar – full report
ANS Radio, Baku
5 Nov 04

[Presenter] NATO sees as normal the attendance of Armenian MPs at the
58th Rose-Roth seminar due in Baku, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de
Hoop Scheffer, who is visiting Baku, has said.
[Scheffer in English, with Azeri voice-over] The holding of the
Rose-Roth seminar is outside the NATO secretary-general’s sphere. I am
not responsible for this. If the issue was within the purview of the
NATO secretary-general, as previously my position would not change. My
position is that the attendance of any guests is admissible at this
kind of seminar.
[Presenter] To recap, the NATO secretary-general visited Martyrs’
Avenue and the grave of [late Azerbaijani President] Heydar Aliyev
this morning. Then he met students and professors of Baku State
University. The NATO secretary-general will hold talks with
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Defence Minister
Safar Abiyev and will be received by President Ilham Aliyev.

NATO chief hails ties with Armenia
Mediamax news agency
5 Nov 04
YEREVAN
NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said in Yerevan today
that “relations between NATO and Armenia are developing very well”.
The secretary-general said this at a briefing on the results of his
meeting with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, Defence Minister
Serzh Sarkisyan and Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan, Mediamax news
agency reports.
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer stated that Armenia has taken a very important
step, having expressed its readiness to sign the Individual
Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO. The NATO secretary-general
pointed out in this connection that Armenia itself should define its
priorities and submit them to NATO for examination. In any case, Jaap
de Hoop Scheffer stressed “the IPAP will be a product of the Armenian
side”.
Talking about his visit to all three South Caucasus countries, Jaap de
Hoop Scheffer stressed that “NATO has no intention of competing with
any country or international organization in this region”.

Armenia may offer to send troops to Afghanistan instead of Iraq – paper
Azg, Yerevan
5 Nov 04

Text of Tatul Akopyan’s report in Armenian newspaper Azg on 5 November
headlined “Afghanistan a possible alternative to the Iraqi adventure”
After being re-elected president, George Bush said in his first public
speech that, with the help of its partners, the USA will continue the
fight against terrorism and will support the development of democracy
in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Armenia is one of the 30 UN member-countries that promised to help the
Americans in the restoration of Iraq; to send a group of 50 sappers,
doctors and drivers to that country, where there is an Armenian
community of roughly 30,000. The issue of sending an Armenian group
is to be discussed in the National Assembly. One thing is clear: if
parliament says “no”, it will be official Yerevan’s “no”, because
today’s National Assembly votes how [President] Robert Kocharyan and
[Defence Minister] Serzh Sarkisyan want.
Azg daily has reported many times about the possible danger for
Armenia if it sends a group to Iraq. But this is only one side of the
problem. One should take into account that abandoning the promise may
also put Armenia up against serious problems. Undoubtedly, 50 people
more or less in Iraq is not so important for the USA, when about 50
people are killed in that country daily. Today the support of
different countries in the anti-terrorist fight is more important for
Washington, especially in conditions when six of its ally states have
withdrawn their troops from Iraq, and France, Germany, Russia, Turkey
and dozens of other states did not participate in the US aggression in
Iraq or condemned it. Undoubtedly, Armenia should avoid sending a
group to Iraq, but instead of that it is obliged to offer another
service to the Americans, as well as to explain (although Americans
need no explanation) what danger Armenia will have if it joins the
Iraqi march. If it abandons sending a group to Iraq, Armenia will
undoubtedly lose more weight in the region, especially when
neighbouring Georgia and Azerbaijan are taking part in the US
coalition troops in Iraq.
For Armenia to avoid Iraq, Afghanistan may become an alternative,
which is really a den of terrorism, where the coalition forces are
continuing their fight against Al-Qa’idah and other terrorist
organizations. Would it be not justified if Armenia announced that it
is ready to send, let us say, 500 people to Afghanistan, who should
fight against Al-Qa’idah and Afghan mojahedin, against the same
terrorists and mercenaries who at one time announced jihad against the
Armenians of Karabakh?
“Azerbaijan was the first to introduce ethnic cleansing to the
territory of the Soviet Union, first to engage mercenaries and
international terrorists in its own defence… [ellipsis as published]
Ten years ago Azerbaijan used the services of the most famous
mercenaries of our region and international terrorists,” Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said on 29 September in his UN
speech.
Apart from Afghanistan Kosovo, where Armenia has already had its
30-strong peace-keeping team for six months, may also be an
alternative for Armenia to avoid the Iraqi adventure. The Americans
may be offered a three- or fivefold increase in our team in Kosovo.
But is it really the case that the Armenian authorities want to send a
group just to Iraq and this decision, adopted some months ago, was not
forced by any party?
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NATO chief says upcoming seminar in Azerbaijan to go ahead despite concerns
AP Worldstream
Nov 05, 2004
AIDA SULTANOVA

NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said Friday that he hoped an upcoming
NATO seminar in Azerbaijan would go ahead as planned, despite local
concerns over the participation of rival Armenia.
NATO had to cancel military exercises in Azerbaijan in September after
authorities here objected to the participation of Armenian
officers. Neither nation is a member of NATO, but both participate in
the military alliance’s Partnership for Peace program.
“It was an unfortunate decision,” NATO’s Secretary General Scheffer
said as he wrapped up a quick visit to this Caspian Sea nation.
A NATO Parliamentary Assembly seminar called the Rose Route is planned
for later this month in Baku. “I sincerely hope that everybody wanting
to participate in the Rose Route can participate, and I’m confident
that this will be possible,” Scheffer said.
Armenia and Azerbaijan are at odds over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave,
which ethnic Armenian forces seized from Azerbaijan in the early 1990s
in a war that killed 30,000 people and left about 1 million
homeless. A 1994 cease-fire has largely held, but no final peace
agreement has been reached.
On Thursday, Azerbaijani police detained six activists for holding an
unauthorized demonstration outside Azerbaijan’s parliament to protest
the expected presence of Armenian officers at the upcoming NATO
seminar.
Scheffer said NATO and Azerbaijan were developing a plan of
cooperation that would outline NATO’s expectations in a number of
spheres from military reform to human rights in the country.