Armenia transport isolation thwarts trade with RF – minister
ITAR-TASS News Agency  
October 13, 2004 Wednesday
YEREVAN — Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin said Armenia’s
transport isolation thwarts trade with Russia.
Levitin, who is Russian co-chairman of the inter-governmental
commission on economic cooperation, said this problem is in the focus
of sessions of the inter-governmental commission.
Among major problems, the Russian minister named the unsatisfied
development of the transport infrastructure, which requires additional
finances, and Georgia’s unconstructive position on opening through
railway traffic between Russia and Armenia.
Levitin said, “There are obstacles to carry out the project on
organising direct ferry traffic via Poti. The solution of the transport
problem in the Caucasus should be subject of the whole region.”
Armenia ranks third among CIS countries in investments in Russia’s
economy, he said.
Speaking at an international economic forum, the minister said,
“At present, the improvement of trade structure and the expansion
of investment cooperation is one of priority tasks.” The forum was
organised by the World Armenian Congress and the Union of Armenians
of Russia.
He recalled, “Russia invested in different fields of Armenia’s economy,
primarily in the productive and banking sectors of the economy.”
Last year Russia’s investment in Armenia’s economy reached 68 million
U.S. dollars. From 1988 to 2003 Russia’s direct investment in Armenia
exceeded 230 million U.S. dollars.
Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov said Russia is ready to take an active
part in investment programmes and the implementation of economic
projects in Armenia.
The prime minister’s message was read by Russian Transport Minister
Igor Levitin.
Fradkov said he is hopeful that this forum would become a catalyst
for the development of trade and economic ties between Armenia and
Russia and other countries.
He noted that the Armenian community in Russia played a significant
role in launching mutually advantageous ties in various spheres
between the two countries.
Levitin said the development of inter-regional relations between the
two countries was an important reserve of bilateral relations.
Commenting on Armenia’s state debt to Russia, the minister said the two
countries had found a solution to this problem last year. The handover
of companies as payment of the state debt creates preconditions for
boosting trade and economic interaction between the two states.
Russian-Armenian trade and economic cooperation is developed in
accordance with the principle of equality, while meeting each party’s
national interests and to their mutual advantage, the minister said.
Levitin noted positive examples of cooperation, including such joint
ventures as Armenal, in which the Russian Aluminium Company invested
more than 40 million dollars, the Armavia airline, in which Russia’s
Sibir holds a 70-percent sake and the Orbita plant, which is wholly
owned by Rosaviaspetskomplex.
“We have cooperation plans in the fields of power generation,
including nuclear power generation, and information technologies
where resources and experience of Russian communication operators
on Armenia’s market will be used, as well as in the sphere of space
exploration and science,” the minister said.
He said Russia’s commercial banks begin to display interest in
servicing Russian companies, which operate in Armenia, and setting
up new joint ventures.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
October 13, 2004
His Holiness Karekin II Receives President Mohammad Khatami of the Islamic
Republic of Iran
On the afternoon of September 9, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, received Mr. Mohammad Khatami, President of
the Islamic Republic of Iran and his delegation of high-ranking dignitaries.
President Khatami thanked His Holiness for the reception, and spoke of the
strong relationship between the two countries and the further reinforcement
of those bonds. “My visit to this holy place has genuinely increased the
depth of significance to my visit to Armenia”, noted the President of Iran.
His Holiness welcomed President Khatami, and referred to the mission of the
Mother See in the life of the Armenian people: “Holy Etchmiadzin is the
very soul of the Armenian individual. It is the beating heart of the
Armenian body. The sons and daughters of our nation dispersed throughout
the world, when making the sign of the cross, have always directed their
gaze toward their spiritual home, toward Holy Etchmiadzin”.
The Pontiff of All Armenians expressed appreciation for the careful attitude
of the Iranian authorities towards the Armenian community of Iran. His
Holiness further noted his joy in the continued development and progress of
relations between Armenia and Iran, and stated his hope that the ties be
fostered and strengthened for the welfare of both countries.
During the course of the meeting, both leaders placed great importance on
the role and mission of spiritual leaders in the peaceful solution of
regional conflicts and issues.
Also in attendance during the meeting were His Grace Bishop Sion Adamian,
Primate of the Diocese of Armavir; Very Rev. Fr. Anushavan Jamkotchian; G.
Gharibjanian, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Islamic Republic
of Iran, and A. Hadidian, Ambassador of Iran to Armenia.
##

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
For Immediate Release October 12, 2004
Armenia registers Jehovah’s Witnesses
YEREVAN, Armenia – On October 11, 2004, at 5.30 p.m. the Central
Agency of the State Registry of the Ministry of Justice handed the
representatives of Jehovah’s Witnesses the official certificate of
registration of their religious organization in Armenia.
“This is a great day for us,” said Hrach Keshishyan, spokesman for
Jehovah’s Witnesses in Armenia. “We may now be able to enjoy the same
civil rights and freedom of worship as our fellow believers in the
rest of the world. We are truly grateful to the Armenian authorities
for taking this courageous step in favor of religious freedom.”
The registration granted by the Ministry of Justice ends a nine-year
history of registration applications-14 in all-the first one being
filed on October 15, 1995. The decision to grant Jehovah’s Witnesses
legal status is an indication of Armenia’s compliance with its
commitments to the Council of Europe.
Keshishyan also stated: “We eagerly anticipate the immediate release of
15 young men, Jehovah’s Witnesses, currently in prison or in pretrial
detention for their conscientious objection to military service.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world rejoice over the legal recognition
in Armenia and hope that this recognition will pave the way for Armenia
to resolve the long-standing issue of the young men who are Witnesses
and whose Bible-trained conscience does not allow them to serve in the
military. In its Resolution 1361 (2004), the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe had ruled that those men “be released immediately
by presidential pardon.”
There are approximately 8,000 of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Armenia.
Armenian/Russian speaking contacts
Armenia: Hrach Keshishyan
phone + 374 9 46-39-50
Russia: Jaroslav Sivulskii
Phone +7 812 434-38-50
English speaking contacts
Europe: Paul Gillies
phone +44 20 8906 2211
United States: David Semonian
Phone +718 560 5600
David A. Semonian
Assistant Director
Office of Public Information
World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses
25 Columbia Heights
Brooklyn, New York 11201
718-560-5600
[email protected]

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
October 13, 2004
___________________
PARISH LEADERS LISTEN, TALK ABOUT NEED FOR STEWARDSHIP
By Jake Goshert
This fall, as part of its “Year of Stewardship”, the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) has been holding regional
one-day conferences where parish leaders can discuss aspects of the
term “stewardship.”
The two sessions held so far — September 25, 2004, hosted by the St.
Gregory the Enlightener Church of White Plains, NY, and October 2 at
the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, RI — were resounding
successes for the 100 or so leaders who attended.
There will be a regional meeting on October 16 at the St. Gregory the
Illuminator Church in Chicago, IL. Sessions at the St. Mary Church
of Washington, D.C., and in Florida will be scheduled later this year.
“The regional meeting was very beneficial. It provided each of the
parishes an opportunity to exchange ideas on stewardship campaigns
and to learn what approaches are being used and which of those has
been successful,” said Jeri Humphries, parish council chair of the
St. Mark Church of Springfield, MA. “The major challenge seems to be to
re-educate our parishioners on the principle of ‘stewardship,’ to help
them understand the difference between stewardship and membership.”
“We should emphasize that stewardship needs to encompass all three
components — time and talent and treasure — and the major emphasis
need not be on treasure initially,” Humphries added. “Once you engage
parishioners in giving their time and talent, there will be a greater
connection with the church that will, in the end, lead to parishioners
giving their treasure to support and perpetuate their church.”
Invited to the sessions are parish council chairs, Diocesan delegates,
and clergy. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, attends every session, as do Diocesan Council members and
Diocesan staff.
“We want to encourage our local leaders to speak of stewardship
as any and all substantive support of our church. It is not just
writing a check; stewardship is creating a sense of community among
the parishioners,” the Primate said. “We also want to show how the
Diocese can help parishes, and how the parishes can help each other
in building stewardship plans.”
The meeting agenda includes discussions on the history of stewardship
in the Bible and in the Armenian Church tradition; on building a
parish stewardship program that encourages giving of time and talent
as well as financial support; and on ideas for creating a year-round
effort at building support for the church.
“The concept of stewardship is very good. It’s very important.
It sends a message we’re concerned about your church, both in the
present and the future,” said Fr. Diran Bohajian of the St. Leon
Church of Fair Lawn, NJ. “To me, stewardship says we’re actively
working to strengthen the church spiritually, not just financially.
And we’re welcoming people’s donations of all kinds. Some give time,
others have skills or money. When you put them together, that is what
makes our Christian community come alive.”
Participants in each session crafted “action plans” detailing ways
parishes could help themselves, ways parishes can help each other,
and support needed from the Diocese. Follow-up steps will be collected
from all the sessions to create a plan of action for building stronger
local communities of faith.
The day-long sessions also include a discussion of proposed Diocesan
by-law changes and an open forum for local leaders to discuss any
issue with the Primate and Diocesan Council members.
— 10/13/04
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in
the News and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Participants at the regional stewardship workshop
on September 25, 2004, at the St. Gregory the Enlightener Church of
White Plains, NY, talk about “stewardship.”
PHOTO CAPTION (2): This fall’s regional stewardship workshops, such
as this one on October 2, 2004, at the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church
of Providence, RI, feature discussions on stewardship, proposed
Diocesan by-laws changes, and an open forum with the Primate and
Diocesan Council members.
# # #

Upcoming Conference on “The Economy of the Republic of Armenia and the
European Union” in Luxembourg
Clark University
Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies
950 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01610
Contact: Professor Simon Payaslian, Kaloosdian/Mugar Chair, Department
of History
Phone: (508) 793-7254
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
The Leir Center of the Luxembourg-Clark University Program will
host a conference on “The Economy of the Republic of Armenia and the
European Union.” The conference will be held between October 14-16,
2004 in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.
The conference is organized by Professor Simon Payaslian, Robert Aram
and Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marian Mugar Chair in Armenian
Genocide Studies and Modern Armenian History at Clark University,
Worcester, MA.
Participants Include:
— Dr. Armenak Darbinyan, Director of Economic Research Institute,
Ministry of Finance and Economy, Yerevan, Armenia;
— Ms. Narreh Ghazarian, Clark University student;
— Dr. Claire Mouradian, Director of Research, Centre National
de la Recherche Scientifique, and Centre d’études du monde russe,
soviétique et post-soviétique, EHESS (Ecole des Hautes Etudes en
Sciences Sociales), Paris, France;
— Dr. Yuri Suvaryan, Head of Management Department, Yerevan State
Institute of Economy, Yerevan, Armenia;
— Dr. Styopa Safaryan, Senior Analyst, Legal and Political Affairs,
Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS),
Yerevan, Armenia.

UNICEF: Amid Eastern Europe’s economic recovery, children fall behind
The Star Online
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
MOSCOW: Although the formerly communist countries of Eastern Europe and
Central Asia are seeing substantial economic improvement, millions of
their children still languish in poverty and the problem is worsening
in some countries, UNICEF said in a report released Wednesday.
Child populations are rising most quickly in the region’s most
impoverished countries, said the report by the United Nations
Children’s Fund. In addition, public health expenditures in some of
the countries have declined at a rate sharper than their economies
are rising, the report shows.
“Economic growth alone does not benefit children,” UNICEF executive
director Carol Bellamy said at a news conference launching the report.
The report notes that full assessment of the child poverty conditions
in 27 countries _ the former Soviet republics and once-communist
countries of Europe _ is difficult because of a dearth of recent data
and widely varying local standards of what constitutes poverty.
For example, the report said, comparatively prosperous Latvia sets
the poverty line at 51 percent of per-capita GDP while Georgia, where
per-capita GDP is only 25 percent of Latvia’s, sets the poverty line
at 63 percent.
In nine countries for which recent data were available, 14 million
of 44 million children were living in poverty, the report said. The
countries cited were Poland, Russia, the Czech Republic, Belarus,
Albania, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan.
Azerbaijan was among the countries where annual per-capita spending on
public health declined in recent years, the report said: just US$32
(26) in 2001, less than was spent in 1998, even though national
income rose about 10 percent annually in the period. In Tajikistan,
the poorest of the former Soviet republics, the report said health
expenditures stayed flat at about US$12 (10) despite 7 percent
economic growth.
The report also expressed concern about population growth in the
countries of formerly Soviet Central Asia. It noted that in 1990,
11 percent of the survey region’s impoverished children lived
in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and that in 1992 those
countries plus comparatively small Moldova accounted for 17 percent
of the region’s poor children. – AP

‘Case against Turkey’s Paris consulate should be dropped’
Turkish Daily News
13 October 2004
ANKARA – Turkish Daily News – A French prosecutor asked a Paris
court this week to drop a case against Turkish Consulate General
diplomats filed by an Armenian lobbying group that had campaigned
for recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide, arguing that the
court did not have jurisdiction over the matter.
The group, known as the Campaign for the Recognition of the Armenian
Genocide of France, appealed to the court in July, claiming that
the denial of the so-called genocide allegations on the consulate’s
Web site was propaganda material that targetted the French public,
the Anatolia news agency reported. The group then attempted to have
the Turkish diplomats charged and the Internet site closed down.
The prosecutor, however, argued that the court should dismiss
the case since Turkish diplomats at the consulate had diplomatic
immunity. Defense lawyers for the consulate presented a similar
defense before the court at the first hearing on Monday. The trial
was postponed to mid-November.
The defense lawyers said recognition of the so-called genocide became
law in France after being approved by the French Parliament; however,
the law did not impose limitations on Turkey vis-a-vis broadcasting
its views on its own Web site.
The defense also argued the case as a matter concerning freedom of
expression and thought and said there was no legal reason to prevent
discussions of the so-called genocide.
France recognized the so-called Armenian genocide two years ago when
President Jacques Chriac approved a parliamentary resolution. Turkey
protested the move, and military projects undertaken by France were
suspended.
Relations between Turkey and France have improved considerably since
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid an official visit to Paris
earlier this week. Erdogan is expected to meet with Chrirac and German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder later this month for the signing of an
agreement to purchase aircraft from German-French joint venture Airbus,
expected to add momentum to the betterment of Turkish-French relations.

San Francisco Chronicle
KEVORKIAN, Sarah
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
KEVORKIAN, Sarah – February 19, 1922 – October 10, 2004 Sarah Kevorkian
entered peacefully into rest on October 10, 2004, in Walnut Creek,
CA, after a long illness. She was 82 years old. Born on February
19, 1922, in Chicago, IL, to Sarah and Baghdasar Kevorkian, she
attended Gregory Elementary and John Marshall High School. In 1944,
she moved with her family to Oakland, CA, where she lived for more
than 40 years. During that time, she worked at the Alameda County
Courthouse. In 1989, she moved to Rossmoor where she enjoyed many more
happy years. “Auntie Sarah” was charismatic, fun-loving, and adored by
her family – especially her many nieces and nephews. She enjoyed an
active life including the arts, travel, dancing, cooking, gardening,
and her church and Bible study. There was no physical difficulty that
kept her from enjoying life to its fullest, and in her later years she
participated in many social activities at Rossmoor. She was preceded
in death by her beloved sisters, Alice K. Malin and Rose Agajan. She
is survived by her devoted brother, Harry, and sister-in-law, Betty
Kevorkian, and their children and families: Christopher, Nancy, Kate
and Cal Kevorkian; Matthew, Susan, Ryan, Madeline and Kyle Kevorkian;
Kevin, Susie, Connor, Tess and Annie Kevorkian; and niece, Elizabeth
Kevorkian. She is also survived by her loving niece, Carol Rustigian
and husband, George, and their children and families: Beth (Rustigian),
Jim, Melanie and Michael Broussalian; Caroline (Rustigian) and Marc
Bruderer; and Paul Rustigian. She will be remembered for her vibrant
spirit by her niece, Sue Malin, and her devoted nephew, Scott Malin,
and his wife, Pam, and their children Robbie, Andrea and Jared. A
Visitation will be held Thursday, October 14, 2004, from 5 to 7 p.m. at
Oakmont Mortuary, 2099 Reliez Valley Road, Lafayette. Friends and
family are invited to a Funeral Service on Friday, October 15, 2004,
at 11 a.m. at St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church, 650 Spruce St,
Oakland. A Graveside Ceremony at Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette
will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to
St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church, 650 Spruce St, Oakland, CA 94610;
Nor Cal Armenian Home and Social Service, 1818 Gilbreth Rd, Suite 132,
Burlingame, CA 94010; or Hospice and Palliative Care of Contra Costa,
2051 Harrison St, Concord, CA 94520. Please include the name of the
deceased in your correspondence. Oakmont Mortuary (925) 935-3311.

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
Ottobre 11, 2004
FRANCIA: AMBASCIATORE TURCO, ‘DIVERSO SE FOSSIMO CRISTIANI’ ;
GIUSTA LA VIGILANZA DURANTE NEGOZIATI, MA NO AI PREGIUDIZI
PARIGI
(ANSA) – PARIGI, 11 OTT – Il vero motivo delle reticenze nei confronti
della candidatura turca all’Unione Europea, “soprattutto in Francia,
e’ la religione. Se la Turchia fosse cristiana – afferma il suo
ambasciatore in Francia, Uluc Ozulker – non ci sarebbe nessun
problema”.
Eppure, garantisce il diplomatico, “noi condividiamo gli stessi valori
democratici dei 25. Le nostre relazioni con l’Europa risalgono al 1959,
e facciamo gia’ parte dell’unione doganale”.
Anche perche, aggiunge, “la Turchia e’ uno stato laico”, dove “le
riforme d’Ataturk non sono altro che le repliche adattate dei principi
della Rivoluzione francese e del secolo dei Lumi”.
Turchi delusi quindi dalla diffidenza di molti francesi, anche se,
sostiene Ozulker, “il dibattito francocentrico ha la meglio in tutti
i campi. In questo contesto, non e’ piu’ la Turchia in discussione. I
francesi parlano della loro identita'”.
Giusta secondo lui la vigilanza evocata dalla Commissione durante
i negoziati – “questa procedura e’ prevista dal trattato di Nizza
per tutti i paesi candidati” -, ma “detto cio’, non devono esserci
dei pregiudizi”.
Per quanto riguarda il genocidio armeno, l’ambasciatore ricorda
che “non e’ stabilito. Certo, ci sono state atrocita’. Ma, per
riconoscere un genocidio, bisogna avere delle prove. Ora, non ce
ne sono”. Tuttavia, “spetta a storici internazionali e imparziali
di riunirsi e decidere. Noi accetteremo il risultato dei loro
lavori”. (ANSA).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STUDENT BOARD IS AGAINST THE DECISION OF AUTHORITIES
A1 Plus | 15:04:16 | 13-10-2004 | Social |
“We express our anxiety for the statement made by various instances
of Armenia saying Armenia is going to send a group of 50 members
to Iraq”. Members of about 30 social organizations and the student
boards of Institutes of Higher Education oppose the intention of
Armenian Authorities.
It is noteworthy that exactly Coalition leadership, in which ARF
members are enrolled, has made the decision on sending a military
group to Iraq whereas “Nikol Aghbalyan” student board of ARF is the
organizer of the youth’ protest action over the same problem.
Alarm of the young people is that because of spreading the information
about the initiative of the Armenian Authorities on some Arabian TV
Companies the relations between Iraqi population and the Armenian
commune of 20.000 exacerbate. “Iraqi population treats the step
as a betrayal by Armenians, irrespective of the fact that doctors
and sappers will represent the 50-men group”, Ishkhan Saghatelyan,
Chairman of ARF “Nikol Aghbalyan” student board is sure.
“Nikol Aghbalyan” student board of ARF intends to formulate its
disagreement statement in a letter and address it to the same Armenian
Authorities.