Honors and awards
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA
May 24 2004
John A. Swanson, founder of the Southpointe software firm Ansys Inc.,
is the winner of this year’s John Fritz Medal awarded by the American
Association of Engineering Societies.
The medal, established in 1902, is considered one of the highest
awards in the engineering profession. Previous winners include Orville
Wright, Alexander Graham Bell and George Westinghouse. Swanson earned a
doctorate in applied mechanics at the University of Pittsburgh in 1966.
A University of Pittsburgh mathematics student, Sevak Lazarian,
placed 12th out of more than 3,600 undergraduates from 479 colleges
and universities and won $1,000 in the latest William Lowell Putnam
Mathematics Competition.
The annual competition is the most prestigious math contest for
undergraduates; on the first Saturday each December, students take
a six-hour test.
Originally from Yerevan, Armenia, Lazarian attended Moscow Institute
of Physics and Technology before coming to Pitt in 2001. He has
been accepted into the graduate math program at the University of
California, Berkeley.
Another Pitt student, Dorian Croitoru, received an honorable mention.
He plans to pursue his graduate studies at Pitt.

Roots of Anti-Semitism Misunderstood
by: Adam Sabet
New University, (UC Irvine) CA
May 24 2004
Throughout the history of Western journalism – as with most other
journalism – there has been a substantial outpour of falsified
information, none more consistent than the misuse of the term
“anti-Semitism.” Since the rise and fall of the Third Reich, people of
Jewish descent (and later Israelis) have used the term to exclusively
depict people who look down upon the Jewish peoples and would rather
have them exterminated.
Had any of the numerous journalists or Israelis who have used this term
paused to study the meaning of “Semitism,” they would be surprised
to learn that a Semite is a member of a group of Semitic-speaking
people of the near-East and Northern Africa. Jewish people are but
one of many of the Semitic peoples, including the Arabs, Arameans
(lingual ancestors of Arabs and Armenian), Babylonians, Carthaginians
(biological ancestors of present-day Moroccans and Algerians),
Ethiopians, Hebrews and Phoenicians (present-day Lebanese). As such,
there are only four remaining Semitic subgroups: Hebrew/Jewish, Arab,
Ethiopian and Armenian. Through this purely lingual definition –
the only one that is academically legitimate – Arabs cannot be labeled
as anti-Semitic. Thus, for any Westerner (or Israeli for that matter)
to refer to Yasser Arafat or any other Arab leader as an anti-Semite is
by definition impossible and an improper use of the English language,
lest that Arab seeks self-destruction as well.
In terms of ethno-racial labeling, a Semite would be defined by a
person’s geo-biological heritage–they must be able to trace their
lineage to the Middle East. Using such a definition, a Jewish convert
of European descent could not accurately be identified as Semitic.
Also, Israelis with fair skin, blue eyes and blond hair cannot be
accurately viewed as more Semitic than their olive-skinned, brown-eyed
counterparts (regardless of religious following). Such a claim would
be similar to a seemingly white person claiming to be black based on
perpetual indoctrination of such a belief or some ancient hereditary
claim.
For too long has this term been improperly used and perhaps ingeniously
so. Though this may seem a moot point, the exclusive use of the term
Semite to refer to those of Jewish descent or Israeli nationality
does have great philological value. By claiming Jews or Israelis to
be the remaining Semites of the world evokes greater sympathy from
an otherwise indifferent ear.
Thus this error in definition has allowed the media to portray
anti-Semitism to be on the rise in Europe, invoking the memories of
the fascist days of the World War era. The so-called “anti-Semitic”
sentiment of the European nations is thus labeled by their condemnation
of Israeli incursions, and the rise of such sentiments among their
publics in light of the Palestinian (another Semitic people) plight and
perpetual state of vulnerability. During the World War era, however,
true anti-Semitism was on the rise as Europeans commonly upheld the
belief that Semites (along with all other minorities) were inferior
to those of self-proclaimed “pure Aryan” descent.
Had the commonly used definition of Semitism been accurate, then
countless Western journalists and Israelis would still be using the
term out of context in regards to public European admonition of Israel
and any Arab leaders, including Yasser Arafat. Though some Arabs may
wish to see the absolute removal of Israel from once-Palestinian lands,
most accept Israel’s right to exist and have not hatred for all Jews,
but rather for the occupying and brutally oppressive nature of Israel
towards Palestinians. Anti-Israeli sentiment, in this regard, is often
haphazardly confused with anti-Semitism. However, just as during the
Cold War the United States was anti-communist and not anti-Slavic,
most Arabs who have been wrongfully accused of anti-Semitism are in
reality merely anti-Israeli; that is, their enemy is the country’s
policies and not its people nor followers of the Jewish faith.
The difference between hatred for all Jews and a hatred of Israel
must be clarified as the lack of differentiating the two results in
demonizing those who are against Israel as being no better than Hitler.
As with all long-hidden truths, this one must be revealed somewhere.
For too long have the other Semitic peoples sat idly while they were
slowly being excluded from their ethno-lingual heritage. I find such
an exclusion not only ignorant, but insulting as well; as a modern
Egyptian-American, to deny my Semitic roots is worse than denying my
Pharaonic ones, as I am culturally entrenched in Semitism and not
the ways of the ancients. For all the Armenian, Arab and Ethiopian
readers out there: Whenever you hear the misuse of the term that is
used to define your peoples, please correct the speaker.
Adam Sabet is a third-year political science major.

‘Decisive’ Opposition Action Again Postponed
By Emil Danielyan 24/05/2004 11:12
Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
May 24 2004
The Armenian opposition announced late Friday yet another postponement
of its promised “decisive” offensive against the government,
effectively admitting its failure so far to boost attendance at its
rallies and promising to “rethink” its strategy.
Opposition leaders assured several thousand supporters in Yerevan
that their two-month campaign against President Robert Kocharian
will resume with a fresh momentum two weeks later. They also remained
uncompromising in demanding Kocharian’s resignation. “We reaffirm our
resolve to continue our struggle for the establishment of democracy
and the rule of law in Armenia,” the Artarutyun bloc and the National
Unity Party (AMK) said in a statement read out to the crowd.
“During these two weeks we will completely reassess the situation,
regroup our forces and starting from June 4 will hold permanent
rallies, marches and sit-ins until Robert Kocharian’s resignation,”
Artarutyun’s Albert Bazeyan said.
The opposition leaders said during their previous unsanctioned rally on
May 14 that they will stage another march towards Kocharian’s official
residence on the city’s Marshal Baghramian Avenue if they mobilize
“a critical mass of supporters.” One of them, Victor Dallakian,
admitted on Friday that they have yet to achieve that.
“If all of the people standing here stay [on Marshal Baghramian Avenue]
throughout the night there will be a critical mass,” Dallakian told
RFE/RL. “But they won’t. We must make sure they do. Everything must
be well prepared.”
“We will go [to the presidential palace] only once,” he added.
The opposition supporters already marched up the avenue but were
stopped from approaching Kocharian’s residence by heavily armed
riot police on April 12. There were still between 2,000 and 3,000 of
them on the street in the early hours of April 13 when the protest
was violently broken up by baton-wielding security forces using
water cannons, stun grenades and, according to some eyewitnesses,
electric-shock equipment. Scores of demonstrators were arrested and
seriously injured.
Artarutyun and the AMK have since repeatedly promised to lay another
siege to the presidential palace, but have avoided doing that so far.
Some local commentators have concluded that their campaign has lost
momentum. But the opposition leaders disagreed, with Bazeyan claiming
that the street protests have weakened the ruling regime and Dallakian
alleging that Kocharian is “widely hated” by the population.
Another prominent oppositionist, Aram Sarkisian, sounded, as always,
even more self-confident. “Dear people, I wish you patience. We
will indeed remove Kocharian with our rallies and his departure is
imminent,” he said.

Armenian opposition suspends protests until June 4
Interfax
May 24 2004
Yerevan. (Interfax) – The Armenian opposition intends to suspend
its protest activities until June 4, prominent opposition leader
and former prime minister Aram Sarkisian said at a rally in downtown
Yerevan on Friday evening.
“If our arrested friends are not released by this date, we will march
to President Kocharian’s residence and explain our demands to him,”
Sarkisian said.
Sarkisian said hurrying could harm the opposition’s struggle for a
change of power in the country.
“The opposition should not hurry its actions,” he said. The Friday
rally in Yerevan was organized by two forces represented in the
parliament, the Justice bloc of parties and the party National Unity.
The organizers claimed that the rally gathered about 30,000 people,
while the police said there were no more than 4,000.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 24 2004
IRAN SUPPORTS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN
[May 24, 2004, 14:44:36]
Deputy foreign minister of Azerbaijan Republic Khalaf Khalafov met
the foreign minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Kamal Kharrazi
in Tehran, 23 May.
National leader of Azerbaijan President Heydar Aliyev has founded the
relations established between the independent Azerbaijan Republic and
the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated Mr. Khalaf Khalafov, stressing
that President Ilham Aliyev successfully continues this course, AzerTAj
correspondent reports. Highly appreciating the cooperation of the two
countries in the frame of international and regional organizations,
Mr. Khalafov noted that Azerbaijan backs participation of Iran in
the TRACECA project.
Expressing once again his consent with the support rendered by Iran
for confirmation of the fact of occupation by Armenia of Azerbaijan’s
lands and territorial integrity in the international organizations, the
deputy foreign minister said that foreign minister of Azerbaijan Elmar
Mammadyarov would make a visit to Iran shortly. Her also reminded the
preparatory works for the forthcoming visit of the Iranian president
to Azerbaijan.
Noting that Iran pays special attention to development of the
relations with Azerbaijan, Kamal Kharrazi reminded that President
Heydar Aliyev was very careful for out bilateral relations, expressed
his gratitude to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev for attention
to these relations. The actions in the direction of realization
of Azerbaijan-Iran joint economic projects and for development of
all-round relations would be continued, he said. “Official Tehran
adheres peaceful settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict and
will not spare efforts for resolution to the problem. Up to date,
Iran has supported territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in the United
Nations and this policy would not changed”, he concluded, stating
“Iran also supports participation of Azerbaijan in the North-South
transport project”. He reminded that President of Iran S.M. Khatemi
would visit the Republic of Azerbaijan recently.

Une usine de fausses Marlboro découverte en Pologne
Libération
20 mai 2004
La police polonaise a mis la main sur une usine clandestine de
cigarettes de contrefaçon, aménagée dans un hangar à Lomza (nord-est),
et interpellé neuf personnes – quatre Lettons, trois Arméniens et
deux Polonais.
“Il s’agit de la première usine de ce genre jamais découverte en
Pologne et d’un groupe organisé international de production et de
trafic, a indiqué hier la police polonaise. Elle produisait des
cigarettes de contrefaçon destinées surtout à la Grande-Bretagne,
ainsi que des Marlboro rouges pour le marché local.”

Kiwanians told of teacher’s plans to join Peace Corps
Shamokin News Item, PA
May 24 2004
SHAMOKIN — At a recent regular meeting of the Kiwanis Club of
Shamokin, Will Bostwick, science instructor at Northwestern Academy,
presented a program to Kiwanians about his positive experiences
working with youth and his goals to understanding youth in Armenia. A
Penn State University earth sciences graduate and business leader,
Bostwick hopes to blend his knowledge with his contacts as a Peace
Corps missionary.
The Peace Corps was established during the Kennedy administration
in 1961 to promote world peace. To date, there have been 170,000
trainees serving 137 countries, with 7,533 current volunteers. There
is an operating budget of $308 million for 2004.
Bostwick expects to spend 30 months in Armenia, which is in the
Caucasus region of the Middle East. His tour will start at Yurevan, the
Armenian capital, which is at the base of Mount Ararat. Although there
is some ethnic diversity in Armenia, it is predominately Christian.
This year, there will be a celebration of 1700 years in their faith,
which predates Rome. One cathedral which has withstood battles and
invasions over time (since the 4th century), Etchmiadzin, literally
means “the only begotten.”
Bostwick, a Trevorton resident, closed his presentation with his
challenge of teaching students in Armenia who traditionally have had
a high literacy rate of 98 percent. Kiwanians look forward to seeing
Bostwick when he returns.

Libération
20 mai 2004
CINEMA
Potes belges;
Cannes 2004. Hors compétition. Docu belge sur un trio sympathique de
Pieds Nickelés du cinéma.
par DOUHAIRE Samuel
On trouve de tout dans la section “Cannes Classics”. Des
documentaires sur des figures aussi éminentes qu’Henri Langlois, le
père de la Cinémathèque française, Serguei Parajdanov, le prophète
visionnaire du cinéma arménien, ou Glauber Rocha, le gourou du cinema
novo brésilien.
Mais aussi un vibrant hommage à trois Pieds nickelés du cinéma
wallon, présentés avec beaucoup de sympathie dans un documentaire de
Frédéric Sojcher, cinéaste lui-même belge d’une trentaine d’années.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (sic), l’homme masqué, Jacques Hardy et Max
Naveaux sont des “cinéastes à tout prix”, animés d’une foi enfantine
dans le cinéma, malgré ou peut-être grâce à l’indigence des moyens
dont ils ne disposent pas.
Ils tournent dans leur jardin et montent dans leur garage des nanars
invraisemblables interprétés bénévolement par leurs proches. Et comme
le dit Jean-Jacques Rousseau, le plus allumé des trois, proche de
l’entarteur Noël Godin et de la désormais star Benoît Poelvoorde :
“J’aimerais bien que Steven Spielberg échange ses budgets avec les
miens. Il ne ferait pas aussi bien.” Cinéastes à tout prix devrait
être diffusé avant la fin de l’année sur les chaînes câblées de Ciné
Cinéma. Avec, on l’espère, quelques perles de ces trois Ed Wood
belges.
Cinéastes à tout prix, documentaire de Frédéric Sojcher (Belgique), 1
h 06.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information
Department Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
JOINT DECLARATION
BETWEEN
THE ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA AND THE ORGANIZATION FOR
INTERNATIONAL INTER-RELIGIOUS RELATIONS OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
We give thanks to Almighty God who gave us the opportunity, as the
representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Armenian
Catholicosate of Cilicia, to meet again to reflect together on common
issues and challenges facing humanity in general, and Christianity
and Islam in particular. The conference took place under the auspices
of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, and Hojat e-Islam
ou Muslimin Mohammad Iraki, the President of the Organization for
International Inter-religious Relations of the Islamic Republic of
Iran, from 20-22 May 2004, in Antelias, Lebanon.
We addressed common matters pertaining to the place and role of
religion in society. We also dealt with issues and concerns of
spiritual, moral, social and legal nature, related to the co-existence
of Armenians and Iranians in Iran and the long-standing relations
between these two nations. We devoted two sessions for dialogue
with the representatives of the Middle East Councils of Churches,
the Committee of Christian-Muslim Dialogue and Christian and Muslim
community leaders. In our presentations and deliberations we emphasized
the following points:
1) In spite of their differences, dialogue is imperative between
religions and particularly between Islam and Christianity. As
monotheistic religions, the two religions share common values
and traditions. It is vitally important, therefore, that organized
dialogues aimed at closer collaboration take place between Islam and
Christianity on local, regional and international levels and according
to specific contexts and environments.
2) Spiritual and moral values and principles constitute the esse and
the basis of a society without which a given society is doomed to lose
its identity, raison d’être and purpose. These values and principles
must under gird the life of all societies, including decision-making
as well as internal and external relations.
3) In a world marked by growing crises working for peace must occupy
a central place in Christian-Muslim collaboration. But it is not
possible to establish peace without justice. In fact, peace and
justice are God’s gifts to humanity. Without peace and justice the
life of a society will be dominated by evil forces, wars and violence.
4) Islam and Christianity reject violence in all its forms and
expressions and support non-violent action. They also reject all forms
of occupation and associate themselves with the struggle of people
for freedom, justice, sovereignty and human rights. In this respect,
the conference underlined the following:
First, we fully support the right of the Palestinian people to
have an independent state, and the return of all refugees to their
homeland. The State of Israel must withdraw its forces from all
occupied territories including the Shebaa farms in South Lebanon,
Golan hights and Jerusalem. Only justice can bring about lasting,
real and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
Second, we strongly support the right of Iraq to restore its freedom,
territorial integrity and sovereignty. The occupying forces must
leave Iraq and the reconstruction and rehabilitation process must
soon start with the full and active participation of all communities
and citizens of Iraq.
5) The coexistence between the Christian and Muslim communities must
be based on mutual respect and trust. In this context, the organized
presence of the Armenian communities in the Muslim countries
and particularly in the Arab world, the religious and cultural
liberties that they enjoy and the active participation that they
bring in the progress of the region is, indeed, a concrete example of
Christian-Muslim peaceful coexistence. Furthermore, the centuries-old
coexistence of Iranians and Armenians in the Islamic Republic of
Iran, strengthened by historical affinities and close friendship, is
another eloquent example of dialogue of life which characterize our
societies in this part of the world. We believe that many possibilities
of greater collaboration between Muslims and Christians, as well as
between Muslims and Armenians in Iran and the world at large do exist,
which need to be explored together in the near future.
22 May 2004
Antelias, Lebanon
##
View printable pictures here:
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Parish or perish: Armenians in Santa Clarita establish a new church
By Eugene Tong, Staff Writer
Los Angeles Daily News, CA
May 24 2004
VALENCIA — Sweetened with incense and soft hymns, a drab hall at
Valencia High School was transformed into a house of God Sunday for
dozens of parishioners seeking solace at the only Armenian church
service in Santa Clarita.
“They couldn’t believe this thing finally happened,” said Vartan
Vahramian, who helped organized the parish that held its first service
earlier this month. “The first four that came through it was a one-time
thing, but we told them it was going to be every week.”
The parish is the latest outpost in the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church of North America, and a testament to how faith and
demographic shifts are changing this increasingly diverse North Los
Angeles County suburb.
Bringing the church’s services to Santa Clarita has been a long-time
goal for Vahramian, who moved to Valencia from Van Nuys in 1984 in
pursuit of affordable housing and open space.
“I sold everything and bought a house here really cheap,” said
Vahramian, who runs a local escrow and loan firm. “Now I can’t even
buy the house I live in. We grew with the area.”
At the time, the Santa Clarita Valley was home to only 64 Armenian
families, according to diocese estimates. With too few worshippers
to support a local church, the faithful made weekly sojourns to the
San Fernando Valley or such ethnic hubs as Glendale for services.
“The closest one was St. Peter (Armenian Apostolic Church) on Sherman
Way in Van Nuys, and that’s at least half an hour,” said Vahramian,
president of the parish council. “It was a test, especially when the
kids were young. You have to get them all dressed up, put them in
the car, you’re driving and the kids beat up on each other.”
As Santa Clarita bloomed in over the last two decades into a city of
more than 150,000, its Armenian community also grew. By 1992, the
number of families has almost tripled to 180, Vahramian said. When
planning for the parish began last year, he tallied about 500.
Most of the families arrived after the 1994 Northridge earthquake,
when faced with the choice of either rebuilding or moving on, he said.
“They looked at what they have in the San Fernando Valley,” Vahramian
said. “They have a 30-, 40-, 50-year-old house, or with the money
they can get a brand new house and a brand new car, and all they have
to sacrifice was about an hour’s drive every day. That formula was
very attractive.”
But no community is complete without its own parish. Many Armenians
still take pride as one of the first ethnic groups to accept
Christianity, and religion has been central to forging together a
nation from a diaspora that has undergone centuries of upheaval.
“Traditionally, it’s been one country, one church,” Vahramian said.
“Armenians were held together for 1,700 years through their church
unity. … It’s the backbone of our beliefs, and it’s the center of
a nation that’s scattered all over. It’s to get together and thank
God that we’re still alive.”
Vahramian also credited Archbishop Hovnan Derderian with helping
to usher in the parish. Elected primate last May, he pressed the
formation of a dozen new parishes throughout the diocese, which covers
the western United States and Canada.
“It’s an obligation,” Derderian said. “We cannot ignore the fact
that there now exists a community (in Santa Clarita). We have to make
sure, in the shortest period of time, that we can reach out to those
families. … On a regular basis, you cannot expect them to drive
the distance to reach the (San Fernando) Valley and Glendale.”
Shepherding the fledgling congregation falls to Father Zareh Mansuryan,
who served at a church in Armenia for a decade before moving to the
United States in 2001. He is working on community outreach — only
60 people attended the first liturgy May 9 — and to eventually build
a permanent church.
“We are starting a new church so the Armenian spirit and Christianity
stays with the people in this community,” said Mansuryan, 40. “With
the help of the Armenians here, we want to establish an Armenian
church. … But we can’t do it quickly. The important thing is
for Armenians to come together and realize they are a family and
a community.”
Vahramian expects a parish church will be built within five years.
Meantime, he is searching for another home for the weekly services
before June 30, when most Valencia High buildings will be closed for
the summer.
“We’ll be looking for a piece of dirt to build on it soon,” he said.
“The money is there. If we shake down the diocese, they have the
money. But we have to show good cause — that there is plenty of
attendance. And it needs to be attractive — something more than a
high school.”
Staff Writer Naush Boghossian contributed to this story.
Eugene Tong, (661) 257-5253 [email protected]