Author: admin

RA MINISTER OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT PAYS TWO-DAY BUSINESS VISIT TO RUSSIA

YEREVAN, August 4 (Noyan Tapan). On August 4, RA Minister of Urban
Development Aram Harutiunian paid a two-day business visit to Moscow
with the purpose of participation in the arrangements organized on the
occasion of the Day of Builders. During the two-day visit he will meet
with Vladimir Averchenko, Head of the Federal Agency on Construction
and Housing Operation of Russia, Viktor Khristenko, Minister of Energy
and Industry of Russia, Sergey Kruglik, Director of the Department on
Construction and Housing and Communal Services of the same
Ministry. According to the press service of the Ministry, the
prospects of cooperation between the two countries in the sphere of
urban development will be discussed during these meetings.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Le Monde, France
04 août 2004

« Une catastrophe pour les rapports entre Occident et Orient » ;
IRAK Joseph Yacoub, professeur de science politique à l’Université
catholique de Lyon

Propos recueillis par Henri Tincq

LIVRE
TITRE: Menaces sur les chrétiens d’Irak
AUTEUR: Joseph Yacoub

Vous avez publié en mars 2003 Menaces sur les chrétiens d’Irak
(édition CLD-Témoignage chrétien). Quelle est pour vous la
signification des attentats qui ont pris pour cible la communauté
chrétienne de ce pays ?

C’est la première fois que des lieux de culte, représentant
l’ensemble des Eglises – chaldéenne, syriaque, arménienne,
nestorienne, etc. -, sont touchés et au même moment. Et ce dans les
trois villes les plus symboliques de l’Irak chrétien : Bagdad, lieu
de concentration de tous les patriarcats, Mossoul et Kirkouk, qui
sont parmi les plus vieilles villes chrétiennes du monde.

Des attaques aussi bien organisées et concertées ont une fonction
idéologique précise : réduire l’influence chrétienne, fût-elle
limitée, dans les instances de gouvernement et de préparation des
élections, briser le renouveau liturgique, culturel, intellectuel des
Eglises. Je ne citerai que l’exemple de la revue Al-fiqr Al-Masihi
(La Pensée chrétienne), qui compte déjà 10 000 acheteurs, dont un
quart de musulmans !

A qui attribuez-vous la responsabilité de telles attaques ?

J’exclus que les auteurs viennent des mouvements nationalistes
irakiens. Ils ne peuvent être issus que des rangs de musulmans
fanatiques, pour qui il ne doit plus y avoir de chrétiens sur cette
terre et qui veulent accroître l’amalgame entre chrétiens d’Irak et
chrétiens d’Occident, au premier rang desquels les Américains.

Il s’agit de faire monter les tensions entre les différentes
communautés, de dresser les musulmans contre les chrétiens,
d’éliminer l’influence chrétienne sur l’échiquier politique, dans le
paysage social et culturel irakien, de les pousser encore un peu plus
à l’exode.

Quelle est l’ampleur de cet exode chrétien ?

Sous Saddam Hussein, on a exagéré le poids des chrétiens. Le
dictateur les tolérait, mais guère plus que les autres confessions.
Leur activité était limitée à un cadre strictement religieux et
contrôlée par le régime baas. Dès qu’ils dépassaient ce cadre, les
chrétiens étaient persécutés. 350 000 ont quitté l’Irak depuis 1961,
c’est-à-dire depuis la révolte kurde. Ils ont commencé à émigrer du
Nord vers les villes, puis sont descendus encore un peu plus à
Bagdad, pour prendre ensuite le chemin de l’exil. Ils étaient un
million en 1961. Ils vivent aujourd’hui à Detroit (70 000), à
Chicago, etc. L’émigration s’est faite plus massive encore à partir
de l’embargo du début des années 1990, qui a fait fuir 250 000
chrétiens. Ce mouvement s’est ralenti depuis la chute de Saddam
Hussein, mais l’exode a repris depuis mars en raison du chaos.

Cet exode est grave. Le chrétien d’Irak revendique ses racines dans
l’Assyrie et la Babylone anciennes. L’Irak est sa terre. Ce n’est pas
un étranger ni un converti des missions jésuites ou protestantes. Il
est chrétien depuis deux mille ans, c’est-à-dire depuis
l’évangélisation par l’apôtre Thomas de la Mésopotamie. Les premières
églises dans le Nord à Mossoul datent du IIe siècle.

Cette chrétienté est fière. Sa présence est bien antérieure à celle
de l’islam. Elle a toujours participé à la vie politique et
culturelle du pays, traduit la littérature grecque, servi de pont
entre l’Orient et l’Occident. Ce sont les chrétiens qui traduisaient
en Irak les oeuvres de l’Occident et ce sont eux qui faisaient
connaître en Occident la richesse de la littérature arabe, chrétienne
ou musulmane. Oui, ces derniers attentats sont une catastrophe pour
les rapports entre Occident et Orient, entre islam et christianisme.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Ha’aretz
Aug 4 2004

Armenian art on the walls of Jerusalem

By Irit Rosenblum

A huge mural made of Armenian tiles featuring the sea, animals,
plants, trees and Noah’s ark will be dedicated next week at 14 Koresh
St., in the heart of Jerusalem. The 4-meter by 6-meter (13-foot by
19.5-foot) mural was designed and made using a unique technique by
Miri Balian, who volunteered her talents to the city. The Balian
family is one of the three Armenian ceramic art families –
Karakashian, Ohannessian and Balian – who settled in Jerusalem in
1919 and have been hand-crafting artistic ceramic tiles in Jerusalem
ever since. Tile murals by Balian can also be viewed in the portico
of the president’s house, in the Malha Mall and in Beit Gavriel in
Tzemach, on the shores of Lake Kinneret. Her works have been
displayed at exhibitions in Washington and in the Eretz Yisrael
Museum in Tel Aviv. The mural was installed by the East Jerusalem
Development Company and financed by the Jerusalem municipality and
the Tourism Ministry.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA NOT TO DEPLOY FOREIGN BASES ON ITS TERRITORY – ENVOY

Interfax news agency
3 Aug 04

Moscow, 3 August: The Armenian ambassador to Russia, Armen Smbatyan,
has confirmed that his country has no plans to allow the establishment
of foreign military bases on its territory.

“The possibility of deploying third countries’ bases in Armenia is out
of the question. There is simply no such issue on Armenia’s foreign
policy agenda,” Smbatyan told Interfax on Tuesday (3 August).

Commenting on observers’ opinions on the rivalry between Russia and
the United States in former Soviet republics, including the Caucasus,
the ambassador said that these allegations lack any sound grounds.

“In my opinion, remarks about a collision of the interests of Russia,
the United States and Europe on the former Soviet territory are
exaggerated. Caucasian countries are primarily guided by their own
interests while developing their policy,” the diplomat said.

Yerevan’s foreign policy is driven by “Armenia’s current interests” as
well, he said.

Commenting on the situation in the CIS, Smbatyan suggested that
integration processes within this organization have been proceeding
slowly, particularly in the economic sphere. “A revision of values
needs to take place. It is necessary to take a new approach to
building relations between the CIS countries, as well as to accelerate
the development of economic relations,” he said.

Smbatyan said he shares Russia’s opinion that “it is necessary to
centre efforts on raising the level of relations between the CIS
nations”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Jordan Times
Tuesday, August 3, 2004

The need for reconciliation

The recent attacks on churches in Iraq belonging to Chaldean, Assyrian,
Armenian and Catholic denominations represents an ominous turn of events in
Iraq, sending the message that no one is being spared in the spiralling
chaos that is Iraq today.

The five car bombs detonated outside five churches in Baghdad and Mosul
define a new target for those fanning the flames of instability in Iraq.
This deliberate attempt to spark yet another sectarian conflict comes at the
worst possible time, when religious rivalry and tensions between the Shiite
and Sunni Iraqis have reached new heights.

There is no doubt that those behind the attacks seek to sow distrust among
all ethnic and religious groups in Iraq for the ultimate purpose of further
weakening the country and having it fall prey to their distorted aims.

The Christian community in Iraq has long been active in the society and
contributed a great deal to the country’s development on all fronts. There
are still around 800,000 Christians living in this Arab country. Many others
emigrated, seeking better living conditions. It would be a tragedy if more
Christian Iraqis were forced to flee their homeland to secure sanctuary in
Western countries.

Although Roman Catholic Chaldean Patriarch Rev. Emmanuel Delly, spoke
steadfastly about the unity of Christians and Muslims in Iraq following
Sunday’s attacks, more effort must be exerted to prevent any further attacks
on Christians and their centres of worship.

Arab governments, including the Iraqi interim government, must condemn the
recent wave of violence in the strongest possible terms. All religious
communities, especially the Muslims within and outside Iraq, should issue an
immediate warning to the attackers to stop the carnage.

It must be remembered that Iraq has been a model of tolerance and peaceful
coexistence for its Muslim and Christian communities. The worst thing that
could happen now in the Middle East is to spark religious strife between the
followers of these faiths. This would shatter all hopes for a Middle East
that is free of religious and ethnic hatred.

The faction or factions who are bent on striking Christian targets must be
stopped. This urgent objective is linked to the larger imperative of
restoring law and order in the country.

There is legitimate fear that the expanding violence in Iraq will drive the
country to madness and bloodshed. That is precisely why it is important for
clerics of all faiths and denominations to condemn such acts and urge the
perpetrators and their supporters to follow the path of reconciliation if
Iraq and the entire Middle East are to be saved from the abyss.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Reuters
Aug 3 2004

CrisisWatch No.12

International Crisis Group (ICG) – Belgium
Website:

July 2004 saw deteriorations in eight conflict situations worldwide,
according to August’s CrisisWatch bulletin. The 30 July simultaneous
suicide bombings of the U.S. and Israeli embassies and the general
prosecutor’s office in Tashkent aggravated the situation in
Uzbekistan. In Kashmir, violence increased in the run-up to
Indo-Pakistan peace talks, leaving over 200 dead, including numerous
civilians. Sri Lanka’s February 2002 ceasefire grew increasingly
fragile with the 8 July suicide bombing in Colombo, which killed four
police officers. Throughout the month, Thailand saw almost daily
killings of policemen, officials and village administrators in the
south of the country. The situations in Guinea, Madagascar, Moldova
and Peru also deteriorated in July.

On the positive side, four potential conflict situations showed some
improvement last month. After intensive negotiations, months of
stalemate in Côte d’Ivoire ended with a potential breakthrough, as
the opposition agreed to rejoin President Gbagbo’s government
following compromises on both sides. However, considerable scepticism
on implementation of the deal remained. In Nigeria, recent flare-ups
of ethno-religious violence, which had left hundreds dead in previous
months, subsided. Algeria and Bolivia also showed improvement in
July.

For August 2004, CrisisWatch identifies Sri Lanka and Georgia as
Conflict Risk Alerts, or situations at particular risk of further
conflict in the coming month. The only Conflict Resolution
Opportunity identified for August is Nagorno-Karabakh, where reports
of new Armenian flexibility have raised hopes of progress in
negotiations with Azerbaijan.

TRENDS AND WATCHLIST SUMMARY
JULY 2004 TRENDS
Deteriorated Situations
Guinea, Kashmir, Madagascar, Moldova, Peru, Sri Lanka, Thailand,
Uzbekistan

Improved Situations
Algeria, Bolivia, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria

Unchanged Situations
Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Basque
region (Spain), Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burundi, Chad, Chechnya (Russia),
China (internal), Colombia, Cyprus, DR Congo, Ethiopia/Eritrea, East
Timor, Egypt, Georgia, Haiti, India (non-Kashmir), Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Israel/Occupied Territories, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo,
Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Morocco,
Myanmar/Burma, Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan), Nepal, North Korea,
Northern Ireland (UK), Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia,
Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan Strait,
Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Venezuela, Western Sahara,
Yemen, Zimbabwe

AUGUST 2004 WATCHLIST
Conflict Risk Alert
Georgia, Sri Lanka

Conflict Resolution Opportunity
Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan)

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Associated Press
Aug 3 2004

Iraqi Christians slowly fleeing to Syria
Pressure from Islamists forcing minority out, exiles say

SALIM ABRAHAM
ASSOCIATED PRESS

DAMASCUS, Syria – In small but steady numbers, Iraqi Christians are
moving to Syria to escape the threats and violence of Islamic
extremists, say Iraqi Christian exiles.

“The religious and ethnic pressure on us is tremendous,” said
Shamasha Muayad Shamoun Georges, 45, a deacon of the Chaldean Solaqa
Church in Baghdad, who fled to Syria two weeks ago with his wife and
five children.

Georges said the pressure comes from “Muslim extremists,” not from
the interim Iraqi government, which has a Christian as minister of
immigration and refugees.

During Sunday evening mass, suspected Islamic militants set off a
series of explosions at five churches in Baghdad and the northern
Iraqi city of Mosul, killing at least seven people and wounding
dozens. It was the first major assault on Iraq’s Christian minority
since the Iraqi war began last year.

Christians number about 750,000 people among Iraq’s total population
of about 25 million. They include the Chaldean-Assyrians, the
majority sect, Armenians – one of whose churches was bombed on
Sunday, Syrian Catholics and Syrian Orthodox.

Islamic militants have told Christian owners of liquor stores to
close down their businesses, and they have threatened Christians who
run beauty salons and shops selling fashionable clothes.

Georges said he does not expect such pressure to end soon.

Another Iraqi Christian in Syria, Jacqueline Isho, said that when
Christians complain to the authorities in Iraq, they are “always
ignored.”

“Some police sympathize with, or support, those Islamists and gangs,”
Isho said.

Scores of Iraqi Christian families move to Syria and Jordan every
day, according to Emanuel Khoshaba, a representative of the Iraqi
Assyrian Democratic Movement in Syria.

Khoshaba said there are now 10,000 Iraqi Christians in Syria, and 90
percent of them arrived after the Iraqi war began in March last year.
Such figures could not be confirmed with government officials as
Syrian and Jordanian immigration forms do not ask a person’s
religion.

“I have run away because gangs kept on threatening me,” said Adeeb
Goga Matti, 48, who belongs to a wealthy Chaldean-Assyrian family in
Baghdad.

He said his 10-year-old nephew, Patrous Yakou, was kidnapped at the
end of 2003 and released only after his family paid a ransom of
$15,000 (U.S.).

After the kidnapping, Matti stopped sending his four children to
school.

“Chaldean-Assyrians are the easiest targets for gangsters because
they don’t belong to a tribal system like other Iraqis,” Matti
stressed. Muslim Iraqis tend to belong to clans who rally round and
protect their members.

Matti is in Damascus applying for a visa to Australia. Iraqi
Christians in Syria are also applying to emigrate to Canada, the
United States and other Western countries.

Albert Sargon, 24, and his wife, Suhat, 26, left Iraq last month.

“I ran away from threatening messages sent by Islamists because I was
working as a cook for Americans,” Sargon said.

He and his wife do not plan to return.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN VETERANS DEMAND FREE FLATS

Noyan Tapan news agency
3 Aug 04

YEREVAN

Members of the Artsakh liberation movement went on an open-ended
sit-in in Yerablur today. The protesters are demanding that funds be
allocated from the budget so as to provide them with flats.

Armen Avetisyan, leader of the Armenian Aryan Union, told Noyan Tapan
that a commission of the Armenian Defence Ministry has prepared a
special list which says that the families of killed azatamartiks
(freedom fighters) and disabled azatamartiks must be provided with
flats. However, he said, the Armenian government has not started
allocating money for these purposes yet.

The protesters are demanding that the government and the National
Assembly pass a law on granting the status of volunteer azatamartiks
to people who fought in the front line for six and more months and
also to restore privileges and the rights of all the
azatamartiks. They want pensions paid to disabled azatamartiks of the
third degree to be equalled to pensions of warrant officers.

Avetisyan also said that the government and parliament have been
informed about the sit-in which will be halted only when an agreement
is reached between the protesters and the government.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AGBU PRESS OFFICE
55 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone (212) 319-6383
Fax (212) 319-6507
Email [email protected]
Webpage

PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, August 3, 2004

AGBU NEW YORK SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE CONCLUDES EXCITING PREMIER
SEASON

Last Two Events Sold Out with New Activities in Progress

New York – The AGBU New York Special Events Committee (NYSEC) recently
joined together with the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club of America,
where more than 75 supporters gathered for the annual Kips Bay
Decorator Show House in Manhattan. This important fundraising event
brought together area residents, Armenian and non-Armenian alike, in a
show of support for the Boys and Girls Club of America. The sold out
afternoon continued for NYSEC participants at the trendy restaurants
JoJo and Barbaluc on the Upper East Side of New York City.

In addition to the Kips Bay event, the recently initiated committee
also hosted several other programs. During its inaugural event last
fall, NYSEC gathered a sizeable number of guests for an afternoon tour
and high tea at Caramoor in Katonah, New York. Winter outings for the
group have included a day trip to Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum and a
special luncheon at Becco’s Restaurant, along with a lecture by
Dr. George Bournoutian the following month.

Entitled, Armenian History 101, Dr. Bournoutian’s informative lecture
was well received by a sold out NYSEC audience at the AGBU Central
Office. The program was followed by a question and answer period and
concluded with an afternoon reception.

The NYSEC members have already begun to organize new events for the
local community in the coming months, and anticipate another
successful season. Details and dates for the September event will be
announced shortly.

Launched in 2003 by a dedicated group of AGBU volunteers, NYSEC seeks
to promote a better understanding of both Armenian and American
culture and history in New York City. NYSEC organizes activities that
support AGBU membership and brings together Armenians in the local
community. Those interested in joining the Committee or being placed
on the mailing list should call the AGBU Central Office: 212.319.6383
ext. 128.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA THIS WEEK
Monday, August 2, 2004

ARMENIA WARNS BAKU OVER WAR THREATS
In a special statement issued last week, the Armenian Foreign Ministry
warned Azerbaijan that it would face “disastrous consequences” should its
leaders again resort to military force in the Karabakh conflict. The warning
came after President Ilham Aliyev told his diplomatic envoys posted abroad
that should Azerbaijan fail to regain Karabakh through negotiations, it
would “use… the military option.” The Armenian statement further
questioned Azerbaijan’s commitment to ongoing negotiations, with yet another
summit between Aliyev and Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian planned for
September.

Similar threats have been coming from Baku for years and many observers have
began to ignore them. Last week, the Azeri daily Zerkalo cited one unnamed
Western diplomat in Baku as saying “militant calls of your leader are at
odds with the real situation in your army, attitude of your society and
moral parameters of your ruling class.” The source added that the threats
are no longer taken seriously in the West.

But Armenian officials chose to react this time since unlike typical war
rhetoric for domestic consumption, the most recent threat came in what was
supposed to be President Aliyev’s policy speech to the Azeri diplomatic
corps. It also appears that Azerbaijan is beginning to accelerate its
military preparedness. Last month, Aliyev gave an average of a 50 percent
salary raise to the Azeri military and security forces. Azeri officials have
also indicated plans to begin new weapons purchases in Russia, Ukraine and
Pakistan.

Separately, Azerbaijan is beefing up its border security forces, which
received a $19 million aid package from the U.S. last week. The program,
known as the Caspian Guard, focuses on Azeri ability to defend the Caspian
oil infrastructure and on counter-proliferation. But it does appear to have
special operations and air components that could potentially be used against
Armenia, which would in turn violate U.S. law.

The Azeris have also stepped up provocations along the Line of Contact this
year. The Armenian army reported six deaths from enemy fire so far this
year, with Azeris reporting about a dozen. This week, Karabakh forces began
their annual maneuvers, which this year will also test their
inter-operability with forces from Armenia proper. (Sources: Armenia This
Week 7-19, 26; Ekho 7-20, 29; Arminfo 7-23; Azg 7-23; Zerkalo 7-23; Armenian
Foreign Ministry 7-28; U.S. Department of Defense 7-29; RFE/RL 7-30, 8-2)

ARMENIAN ECONOMY CONTINUES TO TOP GROWTH EXPECTATIONS
Armenia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by more than nine percent in the
first half of 2004, the National Statistics Service reported this week.
While below the record-high 2002-2003 growth of 12 and 14 percent
respectively, the increase was well above the six to seven percent
anticipated by the government and international financial institutions
earlier this year.

Significantly, this year’s robust growth comes after completion of
infrastructure projects funded by the U.S.-based Lincy Foundation, as well
as an 11 percent decrease in diamond-processing and jewelry production,
which had been one of the fastest growing sectors in recent years.
Industrial output was up 4.5 percent, driven by growth in generation of
energy (up 17 percent) and mining and metallurgy (up 46 percent). Textiles
production was up 2.2 times, with garment / leather and rubber / plastics
up 1.4 times each. Investments in construction increased by 12 percent, with
agricultural production up 8.5 percent.

In January-June 2004, the volume of Armenian exports grew by over 7 percent
to $340 million and imports by 4 percent to $625 million. Dependence on
outside supplies of energy and fuel, and raw materials imported for
processing in Armenia, kept the trade deficit large. The list of main export
destinations for Armenian goods continued to be topped by Belgium (19
percent of all goods), Israel (12), Russia (11), the United States (10),
Germany (9) and Switzerland (6). Most imports arrived from Russia (18
percent), Belgium (11), the United States (8), Israel (7) and Great Britain
(6).

The Armenian government also reported to be on track with a projected
increase in revenue collection to reach $450 million this year. Combined tax
and customs revenue in the first half of 2004 reached $211 million, up 17
percent year-on-year. Nevertheless, the State Taxation Service chief
estimated that the so-called shadow sector continued to account for 30
percent of economic activity, with an equivalent portion of profits and
incomes remaining officially untaxed. At the end of June 2004 the average
private sector monthly salary was estimated at $100, up 28 percent
year-on-year, while average public sector wages stood at a meager $50,
despite a 46 percent increase. The unemployment rate remained largely
unchanged at 9.3 percent of the adult population. (Sources: Armenia This
Week 2-6, 4-30; Arminfo 7-31, 8-2; Golos Armenii 7-31)

Visit to read Armenia This Week
issues since 1997.

Armenian Assembly of America
Research & Information Office

August 2, 2004

ISSUE BRIEF: ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF IRAQ

On Sunday, August 1, 2004 Iraq’s Christian communities were the targets of
unprecedented violence. Five bombs exploded nearly simultaneously at four
churches in Baghdad and one in Mosul. The bombings claimed the lives of at
least seven people and dozens were wounded. Among the churches targeted was
an Armenian Catholic Church in Baghdad.

Christian Assyrians and Arabs make up the largest Christian groups in Iraq.
Since the Saddam Hussein take-over in the 1970s and due to subsequent
oppression and wars with Iran and the U.S. and coalition forces, many Iraqi
Christians have emigrated. Today, their number is estimated at about 500,000
people out of Iraq’s twenty seven million.

The Armenian presence in Iraq dates back centuries. But the largest group
arrived during and after the 1915 Armenian Genocide in the then Ottoman
Turkey. Today, the number of Armenians has decreased to under 20,000 people,
but a large community infrastructure remains, including some ten churches.
Most Armenians live in Baghdad, with communities in northern Iraq and Basra
in the south.
Below are the major landmarks sustained by the Armenian community in Iraq:

· Built in 1640, the St. Mary’s (Sb. Astvadzadin) Armenian Church is
the oldest in Baghdad. Reconstructed in 1967, it has been closed through
most of last year. It is also known locally as St. Meskenta (Shirin), named
after a 5th century female martyr. During its annual August 15 festival, the
church draws Christians of all denominations.

· Our Lady of the Roses’ Armenian Catholic Church, built in 1884 and
located in Baghdad’s Karrada district, was one of the targets of the August
1 bombing. As a result, three people were injured and the nearby
headquarters of the Armenian Catholic Church office destroyed. The church
itself sustained comparatively less damage. The Armenian Catholics, who also
maintain the newer St. Mary’s Armenian Catholic Church in Baghdad, are led
by His Grace Antoine Atamian.

· The Holy Martyrs’ (Sb. Nahadangats) Armenian Apostolic Church is
located at the Armenian cemetery in Baghdad and is used for observance of
last rights during funerals.

· St. Gregory the Illuminator (Sb. Grigor Lusavorich) Armenian
Apostolic Church in downtown Baghdad’s Younis al-Sabaawi Square was built in
1956. It also houses the Armenian Church headquarters, headed by the Most
Rev. Archbishop Avak Assadourian. Since 2003, the church has been closed for
services as “unsafe.”

· St. Karapet Armenian Apostolic Church, built in 1973 in Baghdad’s
Christian Camp Sarah neighborhood has remained open throughout the war and
continues to function attracting some 1,000 Armenian families from
throughout Baghdad.

· Outside Baghdad, there are functioning Armenian Apostolic Churches
in the southern city of Basrah, home to some 300 Armenian families, and
northern cities of Mosul and Kirkuk, with 300 and 120 families respectively.
The St. Mary and St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Churches serve the largely
Kurdish-speaking Armenian communities in Zakho and the nearby village of
Avzrug, respectively, which comprise over 200 families.

Since 2003, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and the Eastern
Diocese of the Armenian Church in the United States have provided modest aid
to the Iraqi Armenian community’s neediest families. Armenians, along with
other Iraqis, have faced a precarious security situation over the past year
and a half. Dozens have become victims of ongoing violence. Until the August
1 attacks, none of the Armenians were targeted because of their faith or
heritage.

Sources:
The Armenian Assembly of America information 8/2/04
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Press Release 8/2/04
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) 7/7/04
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty 7/6/04
Atlas Travel & Tourist Agency (Jordan)

A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY THE ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
122 C Street, N.W., Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20001 (202) 393-3434 FAX
(202) 638-4904
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress