Author: admin

AGREEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT STATUTES NOT IN LINE WITH RA
CONSTITUTION

YEREVAN, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). At the August 13 sitting the RA
Constitutional Court made a decision that the obligations stipulated
in the agreement on the Statutes of the International Criminal Court
signed in July 1998 in Rome are not in line with the RA
Constitution. Felix Tokhian, a member of the Constitutional Court,
noted that the International Criminal Court was established with the
purpose of replacing the intra-state criminal authorized bodies.

However, according to him, these and many other provisions of the
agreement contradict the RA Constitution and other Armenian
laws. According to Kim Balayan, another member of the CC, the document
was not in line with the Constitutions of the post-Soviet and some
other European countries either. The agreement will be ratified only
after the appropriate constitutional amendments in some countries. The
agreement was approved to exclude the impunity of those who committed
the gravest crimes against humanity, including genocide, hostilities
and aggression. However, RA Justice Minister David Harutiunian noted
that the International Criminal Court cannot examine the issue of the
1915 Armenian Genocide since the agreement is not retroactive. The
Minister also mentioned that the International Criminal Court did not
recognize Armenia as the aggressor against Azerbaijan since the
Armenian people exercised its right to self-determination.

139 countries signed the Agreement on the Statutes of the
International Criminal Court. At present it is in force in 96 of these
countries.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CHILDREN’S-JUNIOR THEATRICAL FESTIVAL “NRAN HATIK” TO BE HELD IN
ARMENIA FOR FOURTH TIME

YEREVAN, August 12 (Noyan Tapan). The children’s-junior theatrical
festival “Nran Hatik” will be held in Yerevan on August 14-22 within
the framework of the first Pan-Armenian festival “One Nation, One
Culture”. Levon Ivanian, Chairman of the steering committee of the
festival, said about it during the August 12 press
conference. According to him, 19 children’s theatrical staffs from
Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk will participate in the
festival. According to him, the festival organized upon the initiative
of the heads of the children’s-junior theaters in 2001 became
traditional and is held for the fourth time in succession. “The
children’s-junior festival gives our children an opportunity to show
their talent and love and value dramatic art,” mentioned Levon
Ivanian.

Garnik Seiranian, Chairman of the “Nakhabem” (“Proscenium”)
Educational-Cultural Union, the main organizer of the festival, said
that the Armenian authorities also paid attention to the festival that
united children of the Homeland and the Diaspora. By the decision of
RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian the state will render support to
the holding of the children’s-junior festival “Nran Hatik” till
2015. Garnik Seiranian also said that the festival has no competition
program. All the theatrical troupes participating in festival will
receive the bronze statuettes “Flight” and diplomas of gratitude. On
August 14, participants of the festival will visit Khor Virap, then
the theatrical troupe of school N5 of Masis will perform the play
entitled “Armenians, 1915” in Artashat. On August 15, children will
participate in the ceremony of the consecration of grapes in
Etchmiadzin. On August 16, they will visit Matenadaran and
Tsiternakaberd. The theatrical troupe “Pearllets” will perform the
“Loud-Voiced Silence” play at the State Theater of Gavar the same
evening. The day of the establishment of “Nor Hatik” will be marked on
August 19, and the hymn of this children’s-junior theatrical festival
will be sounded for the first time. On August 22, young actors will
visit the Pantheon after Komitas, and the solemn closing of the
festival will be held in the evening.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/13/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) Georgian PM Comes Under Fire in Ossetia
2) New Pastors Appointed to Western Prelacy Parishes
3) Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary & Ferrahian High School Receives LAUSD
Grant
4) The Only Thing We Have To Fear Is Another Four Years

1) Georgian PM Comes Under Fire in Ossetia

TBILISI (AFP/Civil Georgia)–Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said Friday
that he came under attack from South Ossetian troops while visiting the
separatist region on a peace mission.
He told Georgia’s private television that no one was hurt in the attack. The
station showed footage of gunfire as he passed through an area that saw three
Georgian soldiers killed Thursday.
“They were shooting directly at us,” he said. “I see this as Ossetia’s
response to our peace initiative.
“Both Ossetian and Russian peacekeepers knew that only my convoy was passing
through that region at the time,” he said.
Zhvania went to its northern separatist region, which is trying to join
Russia, late Thursday amid Georgian efforts to win back its control.
Those attempts have so far led to shootouts between Georgian, Ossetian, and
Russian troops, which are also acting in the region as peacekeepers.
The pro-Moscow region’s self-declared president denied his forces were
responsible for any attack.
The village of Eredvi, where the incident occurred, “is controlled by
Georgian
troops,” Eduard Kokoity told Russia’s Interfax news agency. “There was no
shooting from the Ossetian side, and we view this as a provocation.”
At least five villagers were reported injured at Eredvi in shooting that
started early Friday morning, according to Georgian television.
The station claimed the attack came from the Ossetians in yet another
exchange
of accusations in the escalating conflict.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili raised the prospect on Thursday of
“ethnic cleansing” in the separatist region after fighting there left four
soldiers dead and around 40 people injured.
A senior Russian official also sounded an alarm over the latest developments
in South Ossetia, a territory located along the Georgia-Russia border which
has
enjoyed a measure of de facto independence since fighting a war with
Tbilisi in
the early 1990s.
Russia has proposed an emergency meeting of a tripartite
Georgian-Ossetian-Russian commission charged with resolving the dispute and
appealed in the meantime for an immediate ceasefire.
The United States on Thursday urged Russia and Georgia to end rising tension
over the separatist Georgian region.
“We are urging Georgian officials to move quickly to avoid further conflict,”
deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said.
“We’re also making the point with Russian officials that it’s important to
work with the South Ossetian authorities to end hostilities immediately.”
He said US diplomats had been in touch with Georgian authorities in Tbilisi
and that the message had been conveyed to Moscow in meetings with officials
from the Russian embassy in Washington.
Ereli also told reporters that the United States backed Russia’s call for an
emergency meeting of the so-called “Joint Control Commission,” a tripartite
Georgian-Ossetian-Russian commission charged with resolving the festering
dispute.
Georgia’s parliament has overwhelmingly passed a resolution demanding that
Russian peacekeepers withdraw from its separatist region of South Ossetia and
instead be replaced by international troops. The non-binding resolution has
been passed in a 117-3 vote on the same day Zhvania came under fire from South
Ossetian troops while visiting the separatist region.
Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze was barred from entering
South Ossetia’s self-declared capital Tskhinvali region on August 13.
“The Ossetian side is categorically against my entering the Tskhinvali
region.
I simply want to pass via Tskhinvali [capital of breakaway South Ossetia] and
meet with Georgian population of the breakaway region,” Nino Burjanadze
said at
the Tkviavi administrative border between breakaway South Ossetia and the rest
of Georgia.
She reiterated that the Georgian Prime Minister is ready to hold talks with
South Ossetian de facto President Eduard Kokoity; however, the latter is
categorically against.
Saakashvili has vowed to reassert Tbilisi’s authority over the entirety of
his
Caucasian country, which splintered into several separatist regions in the
wake
of the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

2) New Pastors Appointed to Western Prelacy Parishes

LA CRESCENTA–On Thursday, the Prelate and the Joint Session of the Western
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America announced new pastoral
appointments in three parishes of the Prelacy.
The appointments, which were based upon the considerations discussed during
the 32nd Representative Assembly held in May of this year, will help advance
the Prelacy’s mission.
Rev. Fr. Vrouyr Demirjian was appointed as assistant to the Prelate at the
Prelacy and will be in charge of the Christian Education department and Youth
Movement program.
Rev. Fr. Hrant Yeretsian was appointed as Pastor of Forty Martyrs Arm.
Apostolic Church in Orange County.
Rev. Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian and Rev. Fr. Ashod Kambourian were appointed as
pastors of Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello.
Rev. Fr. Khoren Baboushian was appointed as Pastor of St. Sarkis Arm.
Apostolic Church in Pasadena.

3) Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary & Ferrahian High School Receives LAUSD
Grant

ENCINO–Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary & Ferrahian High School was able to
obtain a $56,000 grant allocation from Los Angeles Unified School District for
use during the school year 2004-2005. The grant was allocated under the “No
Child Left Behind Act of 2001.” A large portion of these grants will be
applied
toward faculty development programs and approximately $10,000 will be devoted
toward attaining scientific resources.
In addition, a special grant allowed five elementary teachers to attend the
5-day Governor’s Reading Institute this past summer. Through the institute,
teachers acquire training in the use of the Open Court Reading series.

4) The Only Thing We Have To Fear Is Another Four Years

BY SKEPTIK SINIKIAN

So I think I’ve finally figured out how this internet thing works. For a
system of communication that’s supposed to simplify the way we do things, this
internet business is pretty confusing. Trying to understand how to work
with it
when you’re coming in at the middle is like starting to watch `Days of Our
Lives’ midway through the season and understand what the heck is going on. (I
still don’t know why Stefano is evil or why Marlena was possessed). I’ve
finally set up my web blog. After trying and trying and giving Asbarez readers
the runaround, the blog/website is finally up and can be visited at
This time it’s for real. Feel free to write back
and
exchange ideas. I don’t take things personally, so all types of comments and
letters are welcome. After all, everyone has an opinion, and it’s not a crime
yet in this country to share your opinions openly.
Take last week’s column for instance. I wrote about the flip-flopping of the
Democrats at their National Convention and stated my opinion. In response, I
received numerous letters from Republicans and Democrats alike. Republicans
praised me for finally seeing the light and Democrats thought I had been
sniffing glue. But my column wasn’t an endorsement of Republicans. I simply
stated my opinion about the Democratic Convention. I doubt anyone would
disagree with me when I say that it was probably the most boring week of
television up until the Republican Convention later this month.
One of the letters I received last week was a forward of a letter to the
Editor by an Armenian who is presumably a Republican and was obviously a
President Bush supporter. I’ve decided to share an excerpt from this letter
because it illustrates an opinion that I disagree with and is part of my
response this week to Armenian Bush supporters.
`[T]his Presidential election is not about the issues that both parties are
talking about, or who can make the most promises to whichever interest group
gives them the most money or votes–because all of these factors are
irrelevant. The issue is simply who Osama and his buddies would fear most as
President of the United States of America.’
I agree with the first part of this statement that says that this election is
not about the issues that the parties are talking about because the issues
that
the two parties are talking about non-issues such as Kerry’s war and post-war
record. Did Senator Kerry throw medals or ribbons over the fence of the White
House in protest of the Vietnam War? Did he throw his own ribbons or someone
else’s ribbons? Who cares? I don’t care if Kerry threw an orangutan in pajamas
over the fence because its irrelevant. The real issue in this election is the
question that Ronald Reagan asked Americans when he challenged Jimmy Carter
and
then when he was seeking reelection to the White House against Walter
Mondale–`Are you better off today than you were four years ago?’ My answer is
a resounding `no.’
And as for the question of whom Osama and his buddies would fear more? I
personally think they would fear someone who was able to restore America’s
glory and respected position in the world rather than gallivanting around the
globe like a vigilante gunslinger from an old Western.
I appreciate that there are folks out there that still believe this election
is about the War on Terror, but the War on Terror isn’t going to put books in
classrooms for our schoolchildren. Nor has it helped bring down the cost of
colleges and universities or created any stable, long term jobs.
The next time you call AOL or any other Internet Service Provider and you
wonder why your customer service call is being answered by some young kid
living in Punjabi, India, ask yourself why these jobs have left America and
why
places like West Virginia have an economy that parallels those in the third
world. Or the next time you hear about another kid that died in Iraq, ask
if he
was looking for Bin Laden. Ask where your retirement investments have
disappeared to and why the top executives of Enron (Bush’s top campaign
contributors) are still free and being driven around in limousines. And
finally, the next time Vice President Dick Cheney talks about national energy
policy and national security, ask how much money his former employer,
Halliburton Inc., has invested in Azerbaijan, a country which harbors Al Qaeda
cells and hires Taliban fighters to fight against Christian Armenians
defending
their land in Karabagh.
I’m not a fan of Michael Moore and this column isn’t my version of
`Fahrenheit
9/11.’ Nor is this an endorsement of one candidate over another. But, I’m
sorry to say that there are a lot more questions to ask in this election that
simply who will Osama Bin Laden and his buddies fear more. The real
question is
not who we will fear more but how long will we have to live being afraid of
ourselves, of the world around us, and those enemies out there who relish in
terrorizing us and our children. There are too many questions to be asked and
no one who is willing to answer them truthfully.
I don’t want to live in a country where my beliefs and political views are
defined by who a nefarious criminal genius fears more. We’ll just have to wait
until November to see if the rest of America shares my sentiments.

Skeptik Sinikian is an angry Armenian-American with lots of useless ideas and
opinions. He’d love to hear from you at [email protected] or visit
him at

All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier
and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and
subscription requests.
(c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved.

ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for
academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through
mass media outlets.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THIS YEAR TECHNICAL EXAMINATION OF TRANSPORT MEANS TO COMPLETE ON
AUGUST 31

YEREVAN, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). The Public Relations Department of
the RA Police reports that according to the RA government’s decision
N461 of 24 July, 1998, this year the annual technical examination of
transport means will complete on August 31 . According to the report,
the State Motor Licensing Inspection calls on all the drivers and
reminds that it is necessary to present transport means for annual
technical examination in accordance with the set schedule in order to
avoid queues and gathering. The transport means, which will not pass
technical examination in the indicated terms, will be considered as
faulty and their further exploitation will be strictly prohibited.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DURING FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR 3,497 MORTGAGE TRANSACTIONS
CARRIED OUT

YEREVAN, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). During the first six months of 2004
3,497 mortgage transactions were carried out in the RA, which makes
7.6% of the state registrations of rights as regards property.

According to the press service of the State Committee of Realty
Cadastre attached to the RA government, the number of state
registration of rights arising from mortgage transactions increased by
71.6% during the same period, and by 21.8% – during the second half of
2003. It should be noted that 38% of mortgage transactions was carried
out by legal entities. During the first half of the year most of the
mortgage transactions was done with respect to apartment buildings
(41.4%), lands (19.6%), facilities of public importance (19.3%) and
private houses (14.6%). In particular, 1,713 realty transactions were
carried out in Yerevan. A total of 486.27 hectares of lands, including
3.12 hectares in Yerevan were mortgaged in the republic. 475.88
hectares of the mortgaged lands were the land plots of agricultural
importance.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CENN – AUGUST 12, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Construction of the BTC Pipeline Resumes
2. Information Technologies – International Youth Conference
3. 5th Annual `Greentech Environmental Excellence Award’ & Intl.
Conference:

1. CONSTRUCTION OF THE BTC PIPELINE RESUMES

Source: The Georgian Messenger, August 10, 2004

BP resumed construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline on August 6,
204, after the Georgian government issued its permission to do so while
Mikheil saakashvili was on three-day visit to the United Stats.

The Georgian president took the opportunity to call on BP to guarantee
the safety of the Borjomi Gorge region through which the BTC pipeline
currently being constructed.

`BP must take all measures to ensure the ecological safety of the
Borjomi Gorge. The company tried to complain to us in Washington but it
will not work,’ he said at a press conference in Washington.

Mr. Saakashvili added tat the Georgian government had demanded that BP
lay the pipes deeper in the gorge to protect the pipeline from natural
disasters and from possible terrorists acts as well as to buy the
special equipment needed to guarantee the ecology of the region.

`The BTC pipeline has very great value for us, because this project
underlines the strategic importance of Georgia. But the health of the
citizens is also important for me,’ said Saakashvili.

He claimed that BP had fulfilled all the governmental conditions for now
and as a result the construction had been resumed. `BP ha taken the
first steps to satisfy the demands of the Georgian sides,’ said
Saakashvili. `But the pipes will not be operated if all safety
conditions are not met.’

The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Tamar Lebanidze told
journalists this week that the government accepted the guarantees to BP.
But she added that some `additional security mechanisms’ would be
considered during construction.

The Georgian Ministry of Environment suspended the construction of the
pipeline in the Borjomi district for environmental reasons on July 23,
2004. The Ministry claimed the construction had violated several items
of the environmental contract and demanded that BP provide all necessary
documents on safety measures being taken in the region.

Meanwhile the United States is carefully monitoring the process of
construction of the BTC pipeline. During her last visit to Georgia last
month, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Beth Jones visited various
sections of the pipeline. Talking at a press briefing in Tbilisi she
said, `I am convinced of the environmental integrity and sanctity of the
pipeline. The security issues involved with the pipeline are being taken
are of.’

Jones evaluated the importance of the pipeline for Georgia. `The
construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline which transit through Georgia allow
the country to find its independence in the energy sector,’ she said.

BP always denied neglecting environmental damage and ecological safety.
On the contrary, it claimed, safety and security are key priorities. `We
have to make sure everything is kept as safe as possible,’ GEO of the
BTC Company Michael Townshend commented on the issue recently in
Tbilisi.

But environmentalists claim that these are mere words, `BP has made all
kinds of promises about how the BTC project would boost Georgian
sovereignty, yet as soon as Georgian law no longer fits their schedule,
they violate it without hesitation,’ said James Leaton of WWF.

The environmental groups worry about the fate of the Borjomi district,
particularly its national park and mineral water springs. The Georgian
media even quoted the Minister of Environment Lebanidze saying she would
not have approved the route through Borjomi selected by BP in November
2002, because of the risk of environmental damage.

Be that as it may, the route cannot be changed says BP. `I can tell you
with absolute assurance that the route will not be changed,’ Townshend
said.

But environmental group Friends of the Earth question the quality of
construction `BP has repeatedly said that it will construct this
pipeline to the highest standards,’ said representative Friends of the
Earth Hannah Griffiths. `But whenever the standards get in the way of
the construction schedule, they get jettisoned.’

2. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES – INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE

We invite you to participate in the activities of the International
Youth Conference that will take place on the October 11-14, 2004,
Yerevan.

The conference will be convened according to the following directions:
o Information technologies in the sociological science
o Information technologies in the field of the biological medicine
o Information technologies in the technical sciences

The conference working languages are Armenian, Russian, and English.
Students (bachelors, masters), post-graduate students, candidates, and
researchers up to the age of 35 can participate in the conference.

The Section of Biological Medicine of the conference will take place in
the Yerevan State Medical University after M. Heratsi.

The conference materials are accepted prior to September 1, 2004.

The conference materials must be submitted in Armenian, Russian, or
English, volume of 3-4 pages, with MS Word text format, according to the
following criterion: Working field is 11.5×17.5 cm (for example, for A4
(21.0×29.7) paper size Top-6cm, Bottom-6.5cm, Left-5cm, Right-4.5cm),
line spacing-1.2, font- Arial Armenian, Times New Roman, size-10.

Report materials can only be considered by e-mail delivery to the
following e-mail addresses:
o Information Technologies in the Sociological Science: [email protected]
o Information technologies in the field of the biological medicine:
[email protected]
o Information technologies in the technical sciences: [email protected]

Lana Hakobyan
Office manager
Bioecomed NGO
7 Hasratyan St., 375014, Yerevan RA
Tel/Fax: + 374 1 282061

3. 5TH ANNUAL `GREENTECH ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARD’ & INTL.
CONFERENCE:
4th-6th Nov. 2004 at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad.

Dear Friend,

I take immense pleasure in announcing 5th Annual Greentech Environment
Excellence Award. The renowned award in the corporate world, Greentech
Excellence Environment Award for the year 2003-2004, in its 5th year
will be presented during the International Conference on Environment
Management on 4th November 2004 in Hyderabad, India.

Every year Greentech Foundation recognizes Industrial and Service sector
organization’s outstanding achievement towards environment protection
and clean environment through Greentech Environment Excellence Awards
program. The awards are given to encourage implementation of strategies
for improvement in Environmental management standards, give recognition
to the Industrial & Services sector unit/organization for their
outstanding contribution. In the past we have presented Greentech
Environmental Excellence Awards to various Public sector and Private
sector organizations. The lists of Award Winning Organizations are
available in our website:

Recently we have organized 3rd Annual International Conference and
Exhibition on `Health Safety and Environment’ from 21st – 23rd June 2004
in GOA, India. 3rd Annual `Greentech Safety Awards’ were also presented
to various organizations for their outstanding achievements in the field
of safety at workplace. The conference had the participation of 378
delegates from all over India and overseas.

`Greentech 2004′ the 5th Annual Intl. Conference & Exhibition on
Environment Management will be held simultaneously with the award
program provides an international forum for researchers and
professionals from academia, industry and government to share experience
and knowledge; to offer opportunities for establishing new and
strengthening existing partnerships among professionals, institutions
and industries. It is indeed a pleasure to see the heated academic
atmosphere during the conference where various industrial organizations
vie with each other to save the world by communicating and cooperating.
Complete details are available in our website:

We invite your active participation in the Environment Excellence Award
Program by sending nomination of your all units/ factories/ projects &
for the Conference by nominating yourself and some Speakers and
Delegates from all units and projects of your organization and exhibit
your achievements through Exhibition Stall to derive full benefit from
this important event. Your participation can also be as Advertiser/
Sponsor for major presence & exposure of your organization in the
corporate world.

Thanking and awaiting your early participation,
Yours sincerely,

Kamaleshwar Sharan
President

—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

“EDUCATION IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE ARMENIAN CHURCH”

Stated His Holiness Aram I

Antelias, Lebanon – In an interview with the press, His Holiness Aram I
reaffirmed his conviction that “The Armenian Christian education must
acquire a priority place and a major focus on the agenda of the Church,
particularly in the Diaspora”. Referring to the Pan-Diaspora Conference,
initiated by His Holiness himself, Catholicos Aram I considered it “a
significant and a concrete step forward in terms of developing a
pan-Armenian policy on education”. According to His Holiness, such a policy
must, “first, critically review the present educational methodologies,
strategies and programs; second, it must take into consideration the impact
of globalization and the actual realities and emerging concerns related to
specific environments; and third, it must aim to make education more
relevant and credible”. For His Holiness the globalized world constantly and
seriously challenges us to take seriously “our educational norms and values
by remaining faithful to the Gospel message”.

Ms. Armenoush Arakelian, the chairperson of Educational Committee in Iran,
stressed the unique importance of the Conference which will undoubtedly
bring education to the fore of our attention.

Mr. Levon Ananian, the president of the Writers’ Association in Armenia,
pointed out the vital importance of the Conference which provided the
possibility to look at the question of education in a broader perspective.

Mr. Berdj Terzian, the chairperson of the Armenian community’s Executive
Council in Egypt, stressed the need of implementing the findings of the
Conference to specialized committees.

Mr. Hagop Balian, an educator and journalist from France, challenged the
mono-culture of globalization, considering education an important instrument
to strengthen our identity.

Ms. Silva Kouyoumdjian, a young woman and a college director from Istanbul,
Turkey, considered the Conference as an important forum for sharing the
experiences and also for looking together ahead.

Mr. Samuel Sarkissian, an educator from Argentina, underscored the
centrality of education for the Armenian communities in Diaspora, reminding
the need for interaction with our environment.

Mr. Vazken Madenian, a young college director from USA, stressed the need to
give a particular attention to the local context in our educational work.

Mr. Arto Ayvazian, a community school director from Cyprus, made an appeal
to the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia to take the lead in reorganizing
education in the worldwide Diaspora.

Ms. Aznive Arabian, an educator from Aleppo, Syria, reminded to the
Conference the need of adapting our educational methodologies to the new
development, strengthening at the same time our Armenian-Christian values as
the basis of our educational policy.

Mr. Mihran Kurdoghlian, a college dean from Greece, welcomed the initiative
of His Holiness and urged to make it a continuous process.

Mr. Manoug Demirdjian, a young educator from Australia, called for a balance
between the Armenian-Christian dimension and global dimension in our
educational programs.

##

View printable picture here:

***************

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.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Eurasianet organization
Aug 12 2004

RUMSFELD ADDRESSES SECURITY CONCERNS ON LIGHTNING TRIP TO
AFGHANISTAN, AZERBAIJAN
Camelia Entekhabi-Fard: 8/12/04

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, on a secretive and whirlwind
trip to Central Asia and the Caucasus, sought to keep the Afghan
election process on track and the Azerbaijani government in line.

Rumsfeld arrived with little prior notice in Afghanistan on August 11
to express US support for the Afghan election process. The country’s
presidential election is now scheduled for October 9. The vote,
originally scheduled for last June, has been pushed back twice
because of logistical difficulties. Officials have also voiced
concern that the country’s booming narcotics production could
adversely influence the electoral process. [For background see the
Eurasia Insight archive].

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has identified the narcotics issue as
among the biggest threats to Afghanistan’s stability. [For background
see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Bush administration officials have
long acknowledged the drug danger in Afghanistan, but the US
government’s efforts to date have been ineffective in helping to curb
burgeoning production. [For additional information see the Eurasia
Insight archive]. In Kabul, Rumsfeld indicated that Washington, after
witnessing two years of explosive growth in poppy production, was now
ready to make the anti-drug issue a priority.

Rumsfeld told reporters shortly before his arrival that Pentagon
planners were still working to develop a “master plan” for
counter-narcotics operations in Afghanistan. During a joint press
conference, though, he declined to elaborate on strategic and
tactical elements of the “plan.”

Earlier on August 11, Rumsfeld made a brief visit to the eastern city
of Jalalabad, located in one of the largest drug-producing regions of
the country. “It is increasingly clear to the international community
that to address the drug problem here is important,” Rumsfeld said in
Jalalabad.

During perhaps Rumsfeld’s most significant meeting of his lightning
visit, he discussed security issues with Afghanistan’s controversial
Defense Minister, Gen. Mohammad Fahim, who was recently dropped by
Karzai as his vice presidential running mate. [For additional
information see the Eurasia Insight archive]. A main topic during the
20-minute discussion was the slow pace of disarmament of Afghan
militias. The disarmament effort, known as DDR, was seen as a key to
reducing the influence of Afghan warlords who control many of
Afghanistan’s provinces. [For background see the Eurasia Insight
archive]. However, the program has lagged far behind expectations and
Fahim, the Afghan official responsible for implementation the
program, has faced criticism for obstructing efforts to disarm
militia forces under his direct control.

In recent weeks, US officials have pressed for a faster disarmament
pace. Some Afghan political observers consider the US stance to be
cynical, pointing out that since the opening of the anti-terrorism
campaign in Afghanistan, the United States has provided extensive
assistance to various warlords, playing a major role in sustaining
their private armies. These militia groups have been used effectively
as mercenaries in helping US forces hunt for Islamic militants.

A spokesman for Fahim, recounting the conversation with Rumsfeld,
said the Afghan defense minister blamed the United Nations for DDR’s
slow pace, claiming that it had not provided sufficient funds to
assist demobilized militia members. “The United Nations did not
remain faithful to its end of the bargain,” the spokesman, Mr.
Gulbuddin, quoted Fahim as telling Rumsfeld. “Without its (UN) help,
how can the [Afghan] Defense Ministry be expected to create jobs or
pay militia members to give up their weapons?” In addition, Fahim was
highly critical of the UN’s anti-drug strategy, Gulbuddin said.

Despite the concern hovering over the anti-drug and disarmament
initiatives, Rumsfeld proclaimed the Afghan electoral process to be
on sound footing. “I believe Afghanistan is on the path to having
successful, free and fair elections,” he said.

A sense of urgency also surrounded Rumsfeld’s brief stop in
Azerbaijan. Local political analysts characterized Rumsfeld’s trip to
Baku as “unscheduled.” The US defense secretary’s talks August 12
with top Azerbaijani officials, including President Ilham Aliyev,
were driven by “concern over the latest trends in Baku’s foreign
policy,” said a commentary published in the Zerkalo daily on August
11.

Of late, the commentary indicated, Azerbaijani officials have shown
signs of wavering in their pro-Western foreign policy orientation, an
impression underscored by the visit of Iranian President Mohammad
Khatami earlier in August. [For background see the Eurasia Insight
archive]. Azerbaijan in recent months has sought to improve relations
with a number of states – in particular Russia and Iran — that are
seen as competitors of the United States for influence in the
Caucasus. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight
archive].

The diversification trend appears closely linked to mounting
frustration in Azerbaijan to the stalemate in the Nagorno-Karabakh
peace process. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Many
in Baku hold the United States responsible for the lack of progress
in the search for a Karabakh political settlement. Azerbaijan, the
thinking in Baku goes, has steadfastly backed the US-led
anti-terrorist campaign, including the military operations in Iraq,
but has not received a reciprocal level of support from the United
States on the Karabakh issue.

The Zerkalo commentary reflected the rising level of anger in
Azerbaijan towards the United States. “Washington’s main goal is not
to help the Azerbaijani nation to prosper, but to oust Russia from
the Caucasus and build a strategically important corridor between
Central Asia, the Caucasus and Europe,” it said.

Political analysts, including Vafa Guluzade, who served as an adviser
to former president Heidar Aliyev, suggest the Azerbaijani government
has felt compelled to reach out to Russia and Iran in an effort to
achieve a breakthrough on the Karabakh issue. “If the United States
continues to turn a blind eye to the situation, it can lose
Azerbaijan as a strategic partner,” Guluzade told Zerkalo.

Azerbaijani officials made a direct appeal to Rumsfeld for stronger
US support for Baku on the Karabakh question, according to local
reports. Rumsfeld was reportedly non-committal in his response.
Following their talks, Rumsfeld and Ilham Aliyev provided no public
hints that US-Azerbaijani relations were experiencing underlying
tension. Aliyev characterized bilateral strategic cooperation as
operating “at the highest level,” according to an August 12 report
broadcast by ANS television. “I am confident that in the future we
will further strengthen our ties to become a closer friend and ally,”
Aliyev added. Rumsfeld echoed the Azerbaijani leader’s comments,
praising Azerbaijan for its “major efforts in combating terror.”

Editor’s Note: Camelia Entekhabi-Fard has reported from Afghanistan
and Iran for EurasiaNet.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/12/2004
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1) Azeris Seek US Involvement in Karabagh, Pledge Further Security
Cooperation
2) Legendary Olympic Champion Azarian to Lead Armenia in Opening Ceremonies
3) Armenian Writers’ Union Fund Established
4) Armenian-Russian War Games To Take Place in Yerevan
5) Georgia, South Ossetia Row Erupts Into Violence

1) Azeris Seek US Involvement in Karabagh, Pledge Further Security
Cooperation

BAKU (Reuters)–Azerbaijan asked the United States on Thursday to support its
bid to regain control over Karabagh, an Armenian-populated enclave which broke
away after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
But visiting Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who pledged to build ties with
the Caucasus ally, did not offer any help beyond supporting international
mediation which has yet to reconcile Azerbaijan with its ex-Soviet neighbor
Armenia.
Thousands of people were killed in fighting in Karabagh before a truce was
struck in 1994. Karabagh Armenians now control the enclave and a swathe of
Azeri territory around it.
Azerbaijan, upset by a lack of progress in mediation efforts by the Minsk
Group
of 11 states, led by France, the United States, and Russia, has urged the
European Union and other Western powers to get involved directly.
“What we want from the United States as our ally and partner is for it to
support Azerbaijan in this conflict and demand that Armenia immediately
withdraws its occupation forces,” Defense Minister Safar Abiyev told a joint
news conference with Rumsfeld.
At the start of his visit, Rumsfeld said Washington was committed to
developing
ties with Azerbaijan–an oil-rich country which should start pumping oil to
the
West through a pipeline across Georgia and Turkey next year.
“I agree completely that the security relationship between our two countries
continues to grow and strengthen,” Rumsfeld said during a meeting with
President Ilham Aliyev.

AVOIDS RESPONSE

But he avoided responding to Abiyev’s call.
“As you know the United States supports the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan,” he told the news conference, adding that Washington was involved
in the Minsk group.
Ties between the United States and Azerbaijan, which is seeking to develop
ties
with NATO in contrast with its pro-Russian arch-foe Armenia, strengthened
after
Baku backed the US intervention in Afghanistan by sending 30 troops. “Our
relations are growing, and I am sure that in the future we will continue to be
mutual friends and allies,” Azeri President Ilham Aliyev told reporters.
Azerbaijan became the only predominantly Muslim state to send troops to
support
the US-led military engagement in Iraq. Around 150 Azeri troops are
deployed in
Iraq.
Russian media reported last month that Azerbaijan was considering sending an
extra 250 troops to Iraq. Azeri officials denied such plans and Rumsfeld said
the issue was not raised during his visit.
“We did not discuss the possibility of expansion of Azeri troops in
Afghanistan
or Iraq,” he said.
Rumsfeld told Aliyev his country was an important partner in the fight against
terrorism.
“We value that relationship and the cooperation that your country has
demonstrated at the very outset of the global war on terrorism.”
US Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld thanked Aliyev on Thursday for his
country’s support in the war on terrorism.

2) Legendary Olympic Champion Azarian to Lead Armenia in Opening Ceremonies

ATHENS–Olympic champion Albert Azarian, will carry the banner of the Armenian
delegation at the August 13 opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. Azarian,
known as the “king of the rings,” was the 1954 and 1958 World Champion, 1955
European Champion, and 1956 and 1960 Olympic Champion. According to the
Chairman of the Armenian Olympic Committee Ishkhan Zakarian, Armenia will be
represented by 18 athletes in 9 sports in the Olympic Games, including
competitions in weight-lifting, wrestling, and boxing. President Robert
Kocharian will also be with the delegation leaving for Athens to provide moral
support to the Armenian team. The US boxing team includes Vanes Martirosyan
from Glendale, CA. Born in Armenia, Martirosyan moved to the US when he was
four and started boxing at age 7. Ranked 14th in his weight class in January
2004, Martirosyan persevered and succeeded in making the team.

3) Armenian Writers’ Union Fund Established

ANTELIAS–Initiated by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, and through the efforts
of the chairman of the Armenian Writers’ Union Levon Ananian, a fund has been
established in Antelias for the Writers’ Union under the auspices of the
Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia.
His Holiness had made an appeal for such a fund during a conference of
Armenian
writers in the Middle East, held on March 26-28. The meeting, attended by 40
writers from Lebanon and Syria, provided the opportunity to raise the
issue, as
well as begin the initial fundraising. His Holiness also issued a circular
requesting all the prelacies and executive councils of the Holy See of Cilicia
to take part in the effort.
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia appeals to all Armenians to participate
in the fund, and help Armenia’s writers and intellectuals preserve our history
and culture.

Donations can be made to:
FRANSBANK SAL, Antelias Branch, Lebanon
ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA
003 035 22 21 532027.87
FSABLBBX

4) Armenian-Russian War Games To Take Place in Yerevan

YEREVAN (Armenpress)–The annual war games between Russia and Armenia are set
to take place in Yerevan, August 24-27, announced Armenian Defense Ministry
spokesman Seyran Shahsuvarian. Russia’s 102nd base will take part in the
exercise.

5) Georgia, South Ossetia Row Erupts Into Violence

TBILISI (Reuters/AFP)–An artillery bombardment has left three Georgian
soldiers dead and other people hurt as villages in South Ossetia came under
fire on Thursday in a violent escalation of Georgia’s dispute with its
breakaway province.
“It’s obvious that the South Ossetian leadership and some other forces are
trying to involve us in a military conflict,” Georgia’s parliamentary speaker
Nino Burdzhanadze said. 
“Our soldiers were defending their positions and peaceful residents. We are
going to do our best to keep the peace and to escape war,” Burdzhanadze told
journalists.
Georgia says South Ossetia must submit to rule from Tbilisi, but after a
separatist war in 1992, local leaders reject any overtures from the central
government, preferring to look to Moscow for support for their de facto
independence.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has already overthrown one local
strongman since winning a landslide election victory in January, but he faces
far stiffer resistance in South Ossetia and in Abkhazia, another separatist
region.
Russia, Georgia, and the self-proclaimed South Ossetian administration run a
joint peacekeeping force in South Ossetia, but mounting rhetoric and easy
access to guns had fuelled fears that violence might shatter the fragile
peace.

“All night Georgian villages and Georgian peacekeepers’ positions have been
under massive artillery fire, coming from various types of guns,” Aleko
Kiknadze, the Georgian peacekeepers’ commander, told Reuters early on
Thursday.

“Three are dead from our side,” Georgia’s Deputy Security Minister Gigi
Ugulava
said.

HOSPITAL BOMBARDED

But a spokeswoman for the unrecognized South Ossetian government said the
Georgians had opened fire first, bombarding a hospital in the capital
Tskhinvali.
“They’ve been shooting at us all night…It’s the start of the war,” Irina
Gagloyeva told Reuters.
A member of a local non-governmental organization told Reuters by telephone
that some people at the hospital had been wounded, but there was no word on
any
deaths.
Russian television showed the blackened tail-fin of a mortar bomb lying
under a
smashed apartment window and doctors comforting children in the dilapidated
hospital.
“We have new-born babies here. We all went down into the basement. I’ve never
seen and heard anything so terrible in my life,” Dr. Tinatin Zakharova told
the
state TV station Rossiya.
South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity, dressed in camouflage fatigues, also
appeared on Rossiya, calling for emergency talks–a suggestion immediately
backed by Russia’s Foreign Ministry.
Col. Nikolai Baranov, spokesman for Russian peacekeepers in the disputed
region, said the force had done all it could to stop the fighting.
“Our headquarters held talks with the South Ossetian and Georgian leadership
and managed to stop the shooting for a time during the night, but it soon
restarted with even greater intensity,” he told Russian state television.
Russian peacekeepers said they had plotted the firing position of the guns
which had bombarded South Ossetian villages, Interfax news agency reported.
South Ossetia’s defense chief Ibragim Gassiyev told Interfax that Georgian
forces had destroyed the South Ossetian village of Andisi, wounding two
people.
He also said Georgian armor was moving to the border with South Ossetia.
President Saakashvili is warning against “ethnic cleansing”  in the region.
“We
must not allow for ethnic cleansing of the Georgian population or a
humanitarian catastrophe,” he said.
Saakashvili says his government faces three major challenges at present: to
ensure the safety of the civilian population in South Ossetia, to halt
smuggling and other economic crime, and to prevent the conflict in Ossetia
from
expanding.
“We must not permit outside forces to create a scenario that would drag
Georgia
into a large-scale military conflict,” he said.
He did not specify which outside forces he meant.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Loshinin has also sounded an alarm over
the latest developments in the region.
“The situation is worsening by the hour and could spin out of control at any
moment,” he said.
Russia has proposed an emergency meeting of a tripartite
Georgian-Ossetian-Russian commission charged with resolving the dispute.
Prime minister Zurab Zhvania said Europe and the US must help resolve the
escalating military conflict between his former Soviet republic and
pro-Russian
forces in separatist South Ossetia.
“We are asking the international community to use its influence to help launch
high-level negotiations,” Zhvania told reporters. He said Georgia still wants
to engage in direct negotiations with the separatists in the presence of
Russian representatives, as all sides work to figure out a way to end a flare
of fighting in the volatile Caucasus.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
SDA – Service de base francais
11 août 2004

Conducteur aux bagages suspects remis à la police genevoise Il voyage
avec 60 paires de chaussures, 51 pantalons et 45 parfums

Genève f

Genève (ats) Les gardes-frontière ont découvert pour plusieurs
milliers de francs de marchandises de provenance douteuse lors du
contrôle d’un véhicule immatriculé à Zurich mardi matin à la douane
de Bardonnex (GE). Le conducteur transportait une quantité étonnante
d’habits neufs.

Pas moins d’une soixantaine de paires de chaussures, 54 chemises et
T-shirts, 31 pullovers, 51 pantalons, 24 vestes et une septantaine de
sous-vêtements homme et femme ont été décomptés dans les bagages du
conducteur, un Arménien déjà connu sous deux autres identités, ont
indiqué mercredi les gardes-frontière.

Du matériel électronique, dont un ordinateur portable déclaré volé
dans le canton d’Argovie, et des produits cosmétiques, dont 45
parfums, figurent aussi dans l’inventaire des gardes-frontière. Les
marchandises et le conducteur, qui s’était présenté à l’entrée en
Suisse mardi vers 07h00, ont été remis à la police.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress