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A1 Plus | 22:08:11 | 04-11-2004 | Politics |

OSCE OBSERVERS’ VIEW ON US ELECTIONS

The 2 November elections in the United States were conducted in an
environment that reflects a longstanding democratic tradition, including
institutions governed by rule of law, free and professional media and an
active civil society involved in all aspects of the election process.

The elections mostly met OSCE’s commitments for democratic elections,
agreed to by the 55 OSCE participating States, concludes the Election
Observation Mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE). The Mission focused primarily on election reforms,
particularly the implementation of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002.

“The high turnout indicates the importance of this election for the
electorate and the strong democratic tradition in this country. Although
it was not possible for our observers to access polling stations in all
states, due to lack of provision in federal or state legislation, it
appears that the voting and the processing of ballots proceeded in an
orderly manner,” said Barbara Haering, Vice-President of the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly and Special Co-ordinator of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office for the Short-Term OSCE Observation Mission.

The Mission was deployed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions
and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. It
published its preliminary findings today, based on the work of 92
observers from 34 countries, including 56 parliamentarians.
c4vuFE20ozxJqdkF3WsAw)–

La Croix
29 octobre 2004

Prévenir les génocides. Un crime aggravé au XXe siècle.

Yves Ternon, Maître-assistant école d’architecture Paris-Val-de-Seine

TERNON Yves

Maître-assistant école d’architecture Paris-Val-de-Seine

La convention sur la prévention et la répression du crime de génocide
adoptée par les Nations unies, le 9 décembre 1948, définit cette
infraction par l’article 2 : .. . le génocide s’entend de l’un
quelconque des actes ci-après, commis dans l’intention de détruire,
en tout ou en partie, un groupe national, ethnique, racial ou
religieux, comme tel (suit une liste d’actes permettant une
interprétation très large du concept).

Cette définition, reprise par tous les textes de droit international
– en particulier par le statut de la Cour pénale internationale de
1998 -, sert de fondement à toute accusation et à toute condamnation
pour génocide. Raphaël Lemkin, qui forgea le mot génocide en 1944,
écrivait alors : Si le mot est nouveau, la pratique est ancienne. Il
y eut en effet des génocides dans le passé, mais, au XXe siècle, ce
crime revêt un sens particulier : il est non seulement une forme
aggravée de crime contre l’humanité, mais l’expression suprême de la
criminalité des Etats. C’est dans ce sens que, au-delà du droit, les
spécialistes des sciences humaines le conçoivent.

La qualification de génocide est devenue l’enjeu de controverses
entre des victimes qui la réclament et des coupables qui la récusent.
Historiens et sociologues s’accordent cependant pour exiger que l’on
ne saurait parler de génocide si quatre critères ne sont pas réunis :
la victime est un groupe humain ; les membres de ce groupe sont tués
en raison de leur appartenance au groupe ; la destruction est un
meurtre et porte sur une part substantielle du groupe ; enfin,
l’intention est délibérée, un plan a été concerté. Ces chercheurs
sont unanimes pour reconnaître qu’au XXe siècle, trois meurtres de
masse furent des génocides : le génocide des Arméniens ottomans au
cours de la Première Guerre mondiale ; le génocide des juifs d’Europe
au cours de la Seconde Guerre mondiale ; le génocide des Tutsis au
Rwanda en 1994.

D’autres meurtres collectifs font encore l’objet de débats sur la
qualification du crime : la famine en Ukraine soviétique en 1932-1933
; la mise à mort des Tsiganes d’Europe par les nazis ; les crimes des
Khmers rouges au Cambodge.

Cette conclusion se fonde exclusivement sur l’état des recherches.
Elle ne constitue pas une mise en hiérarchie des malheurs et elle ne
saurait entretenir une concurrence des victimes. Génocide ou autre
crime contre l’humanité, la sentence n’est pas rendue à l’aune de la
souffrance ou de la cruauté. Les travaux sur le crime de génocide
permettent seulement aux chercheurs d’en appréhender la complexité et
d’en percevoir les mécanismes communs. Pour nommer génocide un
événement, il faut être en mesure de douter de l’emploi de ce mot
pour d’autres événements et de pouvoir comparer les circonstances de
perpétration des meurtres de masse.

Peut-on prévenir un génocide ? Le propos paraît contradictoire :
comment prévenir un crime qui n’est qualifiable que lorsqu’il est
perpétré ? Il serait préférable de ne pas avoir à se poser la
question. On le préviendrait en connaissant les nombreuses étapes
parcourues avant même que l’idée ne germe.

Prévenir un génocide, c’est d’abord abaisser le seuil de tolérance
des violations des principes élémentaires du droit naturel, et c’est
toujours avant une guerre ou une révolution que cette prévention a
valeur d’un vaccin. Plus tard, c’est tout au plus un sérum, trop
souvent un traitement palliatif. Quand des massacres ont commencé et
que les nations se demandent s’il s’agit ou non d’un génocide, la
décision d’intervention n’est pas seulement prise pour des motifs
humanitaires, mais aussi en fonction de la puissance de l’Etat
criminel.

L’ONU est intervenue en 1998 au Timor-Oriental et a probablement
prévenu un génocide, en 1999, au Kosovo, où l’on sait maintenant
qu’il n’y avait pas de menace de génocide. Le fera-t-elle au Darfour
? Au rythme où les hommes y meurent quotidiennement, mieux vaudrait
intervenir et constater plus tard qu’il ne s’agissait pas d’un
génocide que tarder à le faire comme ce fut le cas au Rwanda en 1994,
où les Tutsis étaient, et on le savait, victimes d’un génocide.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Federal Information and News Dispatch, Inc.
State Department
November 4, 2004

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Newscast Off the Air in Armenia; U.S.
diplomat Paul Jones expresses concern to OSCE Permanent Council

TEXT: The United States expressed concern November 4 that a Radio Free
Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) newscast has been taken off the air in
Armenia.

Addressing the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, Austria, U.S. diplomat Paul
Jones expressed the hope that the program will find a new broadcast
opportunity in the immediate future.

“This would demonstrate that Armenia is a state where freedom of the
media is acknowledged and respected, consistent with the OSCE
commitments we have all undertaken,” said Jones.

Following are his remarks:

(begin text)

United States Mission to the OSCE

Vienna, Austria

November 4, 2004

STATEMENT ON MEDIA ISSUES IN ARMENIA

As Delivered by ChargA(C) D’affaires Paul W. Jones to the Permanent
Council

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, we note with concern that the broadcast of the Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty newscast has been taken off the air in Armenia.

We have seen suggestions that the decision to cancel this program was
made in response to political pressure on the station manager.

In this regard, we would hope that this program will find a broadcast
opportunity in the immediate future; this would demonstrate that
Armenia is a state where freedom of the media is acknowledged and
respected, consistent with the OSCE commitments we have all undertaken.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State.)

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Le Monde
03 novembre 2004

M. Fabius toujours hostile à la Turquie dans l’Europe

LAURENT FABIUS a réitéré son opposition à l’entrée de la Turquie dans
l’Union européenne, dans deux entretiens parus, mardi 2 novembre,
dans le quotidien gratuit Metro et dans Nouvelles d’Arménie Magazine.
Le numéro deux du PS se dit « favorable à un partenariat privilégié
avec elle, mais pas à une adhésion ».

La Turquie pose « un problème de démocratie », a dit M. Fabius,
soulignant qu’elle ne reconnaissait pas le génocide arménien.

Il a aussi dénoncé comme « un leurre » la promesse de référendum
faite par Jacques Chirac. « Il serait bien plus judicieux et
démocratique de prendre une décision dès maintenant » en faveur du
partenariat, dit M. Fabius. L’ancien premier ministre affirme
également que l’adhésion de la Turquie coûterait 25 milliards d’euros
par an, « ce qui veut dire que nos régions n’auraient, elles, plus de
soutien ».

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MP says Iraqi involvement may turn Armenians into “terrorist” targets

Noyan Tapan news agency
3 Nov 04

YEREVAN

The Armenian government should aim to prevent Armenia and the Armenian
communities [abroad] from becoming a target for terrorist
strikes. This is the position of the board of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsyutun [ARFD] which held its
session in [the town of] Dzhermuk at the end of last week.

At a news conference on 3 October, the chairman of the Armenian
National Assembly’s standing commission for foreign relations and a
member of the board of the ARFD, Armen Rustamyan, made public a
document adopted by the board. According to the document, the
dispatch of Armenian troops to Iraq is one of the most topical issues
now as it is the issue of safety of the Armenian people and
specifically of the Armenian community in the Middle East.

Having studied the government’s decision to endorse a proposal for the
Armenian defence ministry to join the appropriate memorandum [on
sending troops to Iraq], the ARFD board stated that on the issue of
Iraq the Republic of Armenia should strictly follow the resolutions
adopted by the UN Security Council and other international
organizations of which it is a part.

Asked by a Noyan Tapan correspondent about how the ARFD faction is
going to vote on the proposal to send Armenian servicemen to Iraq,
Rustamyan said that “the board will clarify its position and act on
that, once it receives an appropriate package”.

The board also touched on Turkey’s membership of the EU and said that
Turkey should first resolve its problems with Armenia before it joins
the EU. “We have two main conditions: the recognition of the Armenian
genocide and Turkey’s neutrality on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict,”
Rustamyan said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russian Railway Chief Proposes Alternative Transportation Routes for Armenia
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi 2004-11-04 11:52:20

Chief of the state-run Russian Railway Company Gennady Fadeev said while
visiting Armenia’s capital, Yerevan on October 3, that the railway route
linking Russia with Armenia via Georgia can be put into operation within a
year.

“In terms of financial and technical possibilities, the transport corridor
Sochi-Sokhumi-Tbilisi-Yerevan may be resumed within a year,” RIA Novosti
news agency quoted Fadeev as saying.

However, he added that “questions prevail over answers in this regard.”
He stressed the prospect of increasing the volume of Armenian-Russian
freight transportation through railway ferries.

“The fact that Russian freights are moving to Armenia through the Ukrainian
and Georgian ports of Ilichevsk and Poti, respectively, is nonsense,” Fadeev
said.

He said it is quite possible to open a ferry route between the Russian port
of Kavkaz and the Georgian port of Poti, which will be three times cheaper
than the current route via the Ukrainian port. Fadeev also added that “the
opinion of the Georgian side is very important in this regard.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 21:05:38 | 04-11-2004 | Official |

KOCHARYAN CONGRATULATING

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan addressed a congratulation message
to George W. Bush on his re-election.

“Take my cordial congratulations on your re-election for the post of US
President. USA continuing support and cooperation are deeply appreciated
by the Armenian people and stimulate development in Armenia.
Undoubtedly, US active involvement in the peaceful settlement of
Karabakhi conflict makes a special part in our relations. We do hope
that during your second period of office serious progress will be
registered in the process. During the coming years I expect for a close
cooperation directed to fulfillment of our purposes and prosperity of
our states”, Robert Kocharyan wrote.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
October 29, 2004, Friday

Ajedrez: Oro para Ucrania, delante de Rusia y Armenia

Calvia (Espana), 29 oct

Ucrania, el unico pais imbatido en todo el torneo, se proclamo hoy
campeon olimpico de ajedrez con 39,5 puntos. La medalla de plata fue
para Rusia, defensora del titulo, y la de bronce para Armenia, que
repite su hazana de hace dos anos en Bled.

En la decimocuarta y ultima ronda de la 36 Olimpiada de Calvia,
Ucrania derroto a Francia por 3-1 y aventajo en 3,0 puntos a sus dos
rivales, que terminaron ambos con 36,5 puntos. Rusia se llevo la

plata por una minima diferencia tras aplicarse el sistema de
desempate Buchholz -se suman los puntos obtenidos por los rivales con
los que uno ha jugado y quien tenga mayor numero, gana-.

El ingrato cuarto lugar fue para Estados Unidos (35,0), seguido de
Israel (34,5), India (34,0) y Cuba, en septimo lugar con 33,5,
Holanda (33,0), Bulgaria 32,5 y Espana A, en decimo lugar con 32,5
puntos.

En categoria femenina, China reedito su triunfo de Bled hace dos anos
triunfando con 31,0 puntos, seguida de Estados Unidos (38,0) y Rusia
con 27,5 puntos.

Resultados de la ultima ronda:

Ucrania – Francia 3-1 Espana A – Finlandia 3,5-0,5 Rusia – China 3-1
Armenia – Georgia 3,5-0,5 Israel – Cuba 2-2 India – Bulgaria 2,5-1,5
EEUU – Noruega 3,5-0,5 Azerbeiyan- Grecia 1,5-2,5 Polonia – Alemania
2-2

Argentina – Bielorrusia 1,5-2,5 Espana B – Australia 1,5-2,5 Espana C
– Luxemburgo 2-2 Mexico – Estonia 1-3 Chile – Suecia 2,5-1,5 Ecuador
– Brasil 2-2 Venezuela – Sudafrica 1-3 Colombia – Tailandia 3,5-0,5
Peru – Uruguay 3-1 Andorra – Tunez 2,5-1,5 Nicaragua – Bolivia 1-3
Rep. Dom. – Gales 3,5-0,5 Guatemala – Kirgistan 1,5-2,5 Costa Rica-
Honduras 2,5-1,5 Paraguay – Botswana 2,5-1,5 Jamaica – Irak 1-3 P.
Rico – Libia 2,5-1,5 Panama – Nepal 2-2

Categoria femenina:

China – Eslovaquia 2-1 Rusia – Francia 2-1 EEUU – Vietnam 2,5-0,5
Zsusa Polgar Ucrania – Georgia 2,5-0,5 Holanda – Hungria 2-1 Espana A
– Espana B 1,5-1,5 India – Inglaterra 1-2 Polonia – Rumania 2-1
Bulgaria – Suecia 1,5-1,5 Alemania – Cuba 2-1

Argentina – Bielorrusia 1,5-1,5 Peru – Letonia 0-3 Colombia – Gales
2-1 Brasil – Croacia 1-2 Ecuador – Uzbekistan 0-3 Venezuela – Austria
2-1 Mexico – Sri Lanka 2,5-0,5 Guatemala – Rep. Dom. 2,5-0,5 Bolivia
– Japon 2,5-0,5 Costa Rica- Honduras 2,5-0,5 P. Rico – I.Virgenes
EEUU 3-0

dpa to gs

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Next issue of Orer

Azg/Arm
5 Nov 04

Joint 3d and 4th issues of pan-European Armenian Orer (days) magazine
was published in Czech Republic these days. Besides providing
information on film festivals held in Yerevan, Moscow and Karlovy
Vary, on the ecology of Armenia and Czech Republic, the magazine
opened a new column headed “Saroyan in Czech Republic”.

Last time William Saroyan visited Prague was in 1980. “His books were
published and are still being published in Czech, and one has an
impressionthat Saroyan is more Czech than Armenian writer”, a prologue
to an interview with Irzhi Yosek, translator of the great writer’s
books, reads. “I always liked Saroyan immensely. I had difficulties in
translating his puns and his poetic language”, Irzhi Yosek
said. Another article about Saroyan tells about writer’s activities in
cinematography. To prove his capability to the director of Metro
Goldwin Mayer Saroyan shot his “Poor People” in 3 days and it was
awarded an Oscar in 1943.

An interview with father Harutyun Pztikian is also very
interesting. Father Pztikian from the Congregation of Mkhitarians
informed that a cultural center of the Congregation will soon open in
Yerevan.

Articles on Armenia’s inner political life are also included in
themagazine. The Czech part of the magazine presents Charles
Aznavour’s youth poems in Petra Kohutkova’s translation. Orer gives
the Armenians of Europe, mainly of Czech Republic, a chance to get
acquainted with political and cultural goings-on in their motherland.

By Arevik Badalian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

November 4, 2004

MID-ATLANTIC SEMINAR FOR ALTAR SERVERS

NOVEMBER 13 IN PHILADELPHIA

St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will
host a Mid-Atlantic Seminar for altar servers next Saturday, November
13. The seminar will take place at the church at 8701 Ridge Avenue,
Philadelphia. Altar servers, including archdeacons, deacons,
sub-deacons, poorvaragirs, momagirs, and kshotsagirs, from parishes in
the Mid-Atlantic area will attend to further their knowledge of the
Armenian Church services. The main objective of the workshop will be
to introduce the new Badarak CD for altar servers, which will help to
establish uniformity in our churches in the celebration of the Soorp
Badarak. The seminar will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 4
p.m. For information contact Archdeacon Shant at the Prelacy,
212-689-7810.

REGIONAL BOARDS OF TRUSTEES WILL

MEET WITH EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, NOVEMBER 13

St. Gregory Church of Philly will also be the host of the regional
meeting of the Boards of Trustees and the Executive Council, on
Saturday, November 13.

This is part of an ongoing program started two years ago by the
Executive Council to establish better communications with the
parishes. Three regional meetings have already taken place: two in the
New England area and one in the Midwest. This Mid-Atlantic meeting
will be the fourth such meeting, and will bring together the pastors,
the boards of trustees, and NRA delegates from St. Illuminators
Cathedral, New York City; St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, NY;
St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia; Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
NJ; Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, MD; and Holy Cross Church, Troy,
NY.

Each parish will meet individually with the Council at a pre-arranged
time. All of the participating parishes and council will meet in a
joint session.

A Dale Carnegie workshop on Effective Communication will be part of
the program. The internationally known and respected Dale Carnegie
courses are considered to be the best in teaching basic and effective
communications skills. For information contact the Prelacy,
212-689-7810.

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL TRAVEL

TO CHICAGO THIS WEEKEND

Archbishop Oshagan will visit the All Saints Armenian Church in
Glenview, Illinois, this weekend, November 6 and 7. On Saturday His
Eminence will attend the anniversary banquet and on Sunday he will
officiate and deliver the sermon during the Divine Liturgy.

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN PRESIDES OVER

RIBBON CUTTING AT ST. STEPHEN SCHOOL

Last Sunday, October 31, Archbishop Oshagan presided over the ribbon
cutting ceremony of the new Pre-School addition at St. Stephen
Armenian Elementary School in Watertown, Massachusetts. Attending were
about 150 parents, teachers, students and dignitaries. Following the
ribbon-cutting, Archbishop Oshagan and Archpriest Fr. Antranig
Baljian, pastor of St. Stephen Church, blessed the Pre-School Afeyan
Building.

The School is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with a series
of programs and events including a special gala, which will take place
on January 29, 2005.

REPRESENTATIVES OF WORLD VISION

VISIT CILICIAN CATHOLICOSATE

Representatives of World Vision visited His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, in Antelias, Lebanon, on
Tuesday, November 2. Also in attendance was Bishop Kegham Khatcherian,
Prelate 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.

PRELACY SUPPORTS ARTSAKH PROGRAMS

Archbishop Oshagan has issued a statement to all parishes within the
Eastern Prelacy asking them to support the initiative of the Holy See
of Cilicia, to help rebuild towns and villages in Artsakh.

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
asked that all churches under the jurisdiction of the Holy See of
Cilicia, collect funds through special collection plates on two
Sundays, November 21 and 28, as well as other means. All of the monies
collected will be allocated to the reconstruction of towns and
villages in Artsakh.

As in past years, the Prelacy is supportive of the Thanksgiving Day
Telethon by the Armenia Fund, Inc. The telethon will be broadcast on
Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25, from 8 a.m. to 8
p.m. (Pacific Standard Time).

NEXT THURSDAY IS VETERANS DAY

Next Thursday, November 11, is Veterans Day, formerly known as
Armistice Day, the anniversary of the Armistice which was signed in
the Forest of Compiegne by the Allies and the Germans in 1918, ending
World War I. The War (old-timers still call it The Great War) involved
35 countries and lasted five years from 1914 to 1918 and was one of
the bloodiest wars in history. The United States was involved for only
one year (1917-1918). The Armistice was signed on the 11th hour, of
the 11th day, of the 11th month.

In the early 1950s there was a movement to change the name to Veterans
Day to honor all wars and those who fought. In 1954, President Dwight
D. Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11th each year as
Veterans Day.

In 1968, during that era when holidays were moved to Mondays in order
to create long weekends, Veterans Day was changed to the fourth Monday
in October. There was great protest because the significance of
November 11th was lost. In 1978, Congress returned the observance to
its traditional date.

ARMENIAN CHURCH REMEMBERS

THE ARCHANGELS MICHAEL AND GABRIEL

This Saturday, November 6, the Armenian Church commemorates the
Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Archangel is a title given to an angel
of high rank in the celestial hierarchy.

Michael, which means Who is like God, is the great prince of all the
angels and leader of the celestial armies. He is considered to be the
protector of Christians in general.

Gabriel, which means Strength of God, is one of God’s chief
messengers. He was chosen by our Lord to announce to the Virgin Mary,
and to all Mankind, the great joy of the incarnation of the Son of
God. In Christian tradition Gabriel is considered to be the angel of
mercy. In recent times he has been adopted (unofficially) as the
patron saint of the Internet.

A PRAYER FOR DILIGENCE

In light of the Presidential elections this week and the observance of
Veterans (Armistice) Day next week we end with a prayer by President
Woodrow Wilson delivered as part of his inaugural speech on March 5,
1917.

I know now what the task [of the presidency] means. I realize to the
full the responsibility which it involves. I pray God I may be given
the wisdom and the prudence to do my duty in the true spirit of this
great people.

And while we render thanks for all things let us pray Almighty God
that in all humbleness of spirit we may look always to Him for
guidance; that we may be kept constant in the spirit and purpose of
service; that by His grace our minds may be directed and our hands
strengthened; and that in His good time liberty and security and peace
and the comradeship of a common justice may be vouchsafed all the
nations of the earth.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress