Author: Arsine Chaltikian

RUSSIA, UKRAINE, GEORGIA, ARMENIA, TURKEY PLANNING BLACK SEA RING HIGHWAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.02.2008 13:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Turkey
are planning to launch Black Sea Ring Highway project supposing
ferry communication, Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin
said. Kavkaz-Kerch (Ukraine) and Kavkaz-Poti (Georgia) are functioning.

The project includes establishment of ferry communication with Varna
(Bulgaria) and Istanbul (Turkey).

According to the Minister, the Black Sea Ring Highway project is
supposed to be implemented in 2010-2015.

The cargo traffic will raise from 2.000.000 to some 5.000.000 tons. In
all, 12 ferries will be put into operation. "We don’t think there can
be problems with Georgia except for some tariff issues. Anyway, Georgia
can’t block the cargo pass," Mr Levitin said, Georgia Online reports.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

JANUARY 24, 2008

PRELATE DEPARTS FOR MIDDLE EAST TODAY
TO ATTEND THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE MEETINGS
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan is scheduled to depart today for the Middle
East. He will first go to Lebanon and then to the Saint Ephrem Syrian
Orthodox Monastery in Maarrat Saydnaya, located in the mountains near the
city of Damascus, Syria, where the fifth meeting of the International Joint
Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Oriental Orthodox Churches
and Catholic Church will take place.
The Armenian Church will be represented by the two Catholicates. The
Catholicate of All Armenians will be represented by Archbishop Mesrob
Krikorian and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian. The Catholicate of Cilicia will
be represented by Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan and Bishop Nareg Alemezian.
The Monastery at Saydnaya (547 AD) has a rich and interesting history
and it is one of two monasteries where the spoken language is still
Aramaic-the language of our Lord Jesus Christ. The convent is dedicated to
the Holy Theotokos. According to tradition, Justinian I, Emperor of
Byzantium, was crossing Syria with his troops on his way to the Holy Land.
They encamped in the desert and searched for water. The emperor pursued what
he thought was a gazelle which led him to a spring of fresh water. Suddenly,
the vision turned into a bright light with the image of the Holy Theotokos
who told Justinian "Thou shalt build a church for me here on this hill."
Upon his return, Justinian related what he had seen and ordered that plans
for a church be drawn immediately. When the architectural plans for the
church became embroiled with controversy and problems, the Holy Virgin again
appeared to Justinian, describing exactly how the convent should be built.
It is said that the basic structure followed this plan. The convent gained
honor and fame and became a popular destination for pilgrims.

REQUIEM SERVICE FOR PRIESTS WHO SERVED THE PRELACY
In conjunction with the upcoming Ghevontiantz commemoration, all Prelacy
churches will observe a special requiem service this Sunday, January 27, in
memory of all the deceased clergy who served the Prelacy.
We remember and honor: H.H. Catholicos Karekin I, Supreme Patriarch of
All Armenians, Archbishop Hrant Khatchadourian, Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian,
V. Rev. Fr. Vaghinag Sisagian, V. Rev. Fr. Ghevont Martougesian, V. Rev. Fr.
Nishan Papazian, V. Rev. Fr. Barour Ekmekjian, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Amrigian,
Rev. Fr. Arsen Varjabedian, Rev. Fr. Mateos Mannigian, Rev. Fr. Bedros
Mamprelian, Rev. Fr. Stepanos Garabedian, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Hovanesian, Rev.
Fr. Houssig Naghnikian, Rev. Fr. Adom Melikian, Rev. Fr. Yeghishe Kasbarian,
Rev. Fr. Ghevont Khosrovian, Rev. Fr. Bedros Kasarjian, Rev. Fr. Sahag
Balian, Rev. Fr. Ghevont Papazian, Rev. Fr. Papken Kasbarian, Rev. Fr. Sahag
Yeghiayan, Rev. Fr. Nerses Shahinian, Rev. Fr. Bsag Sarkisian, Rev. Fr.
Yeghishe Mkitarian, Rev. Fr. Souren Papakhian, Rev. Fr. Arsen Simeoniantz,
Rev. Fr. Movses Der Stepanian, Rev. Fr. Mampre Biberian, Rev. Fr. Khachadour
Giragossian, Rev. Fr. Yervant Yeretzian, Rev. Fr. Gomidas Der Torosian, Rev.
Fr. Movses Shrikian, Rev. Fr. Dikran Khoyan, Rev. Fr. Smpad Der Mksian, Rev.
Fr. Vahan Ghazarian, Rev. Fr. Ashod Kochian, Rev. Fr. Arshavir Sevdalian,
Rev. Fr. Kourken Yaralian, Rev. Fr. Arsen Hagopian, Rev. Fr. Sarkis
Antreasian, Rev. Fr. Sahag Andekian, Rev. Fr. Hmayag Minoyan, Rev. Fr.
Asoghik Kiledjian, Rev. Fr. Varant Bedrosian, Rev. Fr. Sahag Vertanesian.

VICAR’S DUTIES WILL TAKE HIM TO NEW YORK, CONNNECTICUT, NEW JERSEY, AND
RHODE ISLAND
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Prelacy, will preside
over the Divine Liturgy this Sunday, January 27, at St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral in New York City. On Monday and Tuesday, January 28 and 29, he
will preside over the Ghevontiantz Clergy Conference in Connecticut. On
Thursday, January 31, he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on the occasion
of Vartanantz at Sts. Vartanantz Church in New Jersey, and on Sunday,
February 2, he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Providence, Rhode Island.

DN. SHANT KAZANJIAN WILL LEAD SEMINAR IN MICHIGAN
This weekend Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of the Prelacy’s Armenian
Religious Education Council, will travel to St. Sarkis Armenian Church in
Dearborn, Michigan, where he will conduct a seminar for the Sunday School
teachers on Sunday afternoon, 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm. On Sunday morning, Dn.
Shant will visit the Sunday School classes and teach the junior-senior high
students. St. Sarkis Sunday School has 74 students and 10 teachers.

CLERGY WILL GATHER IN CONNECTICUT FOR GHEVONTIANTZ
Next Monday and Tuesday, January 29 and 30, the clergy of the Eastern
Prelacy will gather in New Britain, Connecticut for their annual clergy
conclave on the occasion of the Ghevontiantz commemoration. This year’s
theme will be the "Year of Christian Education" as designated by His
Holiness Aram I.
The Feast of the Ghevontiantz is celebrated each year prior to the
Vartanantz Feast. The collective name is in honor of brave clergymen who
preached and fought against tyranny, during and after the war of Vartanantz.
It is named after Ghevond Yerets (Leondius the Cleric), who fought in the
front lines with Vartan at Avarayr. He holds a special place of honor
because of his close collaboration with Vartan Mamigonian and because of the
inspiring message he gave to the troops prior the decisive battle at
Avarayr.
According to the historians Yeghishe and Ghazar Parpetsi, the clergy who
are collectively known as the "Ghevontian Saints" include: Catholicos Hovsep
Hoghotsmetsi (also known as Vayorstzoretsi), Bishop Sahak Rushtouni, Bishop
Tatik of Aghbak, the priests Ghevont, Arshen, Manuel, Abraham, Khoren, and
deacons Kachach and Abraham.

THE HOLY VOSKIAN PRIESTS
Today, January 24, the Armenian Church commemorates the lives of the
Voskian priests-five men who were sent to Rome by the Armenian king
Sanadrook. On the road to Rome they met the Apostle Thaddeus who converted
and baptized them. The leader of the five was named Voski, hence the name
"Voskian Priests." They lived as hermits for forty years, preached to the
Royal Court and were martyred in 107 AD.

ST. SAHAK BARTEV
This Saturday, January 26, the Armenian Church remembers Catholicos
Sahak (Isaac) Bartev. He was the son of St. Nerses the Great and a
descendant of St. Gregory the Illuminator. He was instrumental in the
invention of the Armenian alphabet with Mesrob Mashtots. He spearheaded the
translation work that followed the invention of the alphabet that ushered in
Armenia’s golden age of literature. He was an ardent believer in education
and ecclesiastical discipline and canon law. His illustrious life ended in
437 at age 89, and with his death the line of St. Gregory the Illuminator
came to an end.

PRELACY PARISHES WILL READ CATHOLICOS’ MESSAGE
ON YEAR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
designated the year 2008 as the "Year of Christian Education." His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan, has instructed all parishes within the Eastern Prelacy
to read the Pontiff’s message on Sunday, February 3.
To read His Holiness’ message in Armenian click here.
To read His Holiness’ message in English click here.

ORDINATION OF DN. NISHAN BALJIAN ON FEBRUARY 16 and 17
Archbishop Oshagan has announced that Deacon Nishan Baljian will be
ordained to the Holy Order of the Priesthood on Sunday, February 17, at St.
Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown, Massachusetts, where Dn.
Nishan’s father, Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian is pastor, and a parish
that the candidate attended and served for many years. The Service of
Calling will take place Saturday evening, February 16. His Grace Bishop
Anoushavan Tanielian is the candidate’s spiritual sponsor and Col. George
Rustigian, USAF (Ret.) is his Godfather. On Sunday, February 17, with
Archbishop Oshagan officiating, Dn. Nishan will be ordained and given a new
name.
Following the Service of Calling on Saturday evening there will be a
reception in St. Stephen Church hall for all participants. A banquet will
follow the Liturgy and Ordination on Sunday in honor of the newly ordained
priest. Reservations are required. Contact the church office at 617-924-7562
or Josh Tevekelian at 617-926-9169.
To read more about Dn. Nishan Baljian click here.

LENTEN LECTURES WILL BEGIN FEBRUARY 6
The Prelacy’s Lenten Lectures series will begin on Wednesday, February
6, with a lecture on Armenian Christian Education: An Introduction by Bishop
Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Prelacy. All of the lectures will
center on the Year of Christian Education. Subsequent lectures will be
presented by Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, Rev. Fr. Aram Stepanian, Rev. Fr.
Mesrob Lakissian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, and Rev. Fr. Vartan Kassabian. The
lectures take place at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New
York City. Lenten service starts at 7:30, followed by the lecture,
discussion, and fellowship. The lectures are under the sponsorship of the
Prelacy Ladies Guild, St. Illuminator’s Cathedral Ladies Guild, and the
Armenian Religious Education Council.

PRELATE AND OTHER CLERGY JOIN THE CRUISE
Archbishop Oshagan returned after the popular one-week Armenian Heritage
Cruise that attracts hundreds of Armenians from all over. Two other
Archbishops joined the cruise this year-Archbishop Souren Kataroian and
Archbishop Khajag Hagopian and several other clergymen. The clergy held a
morning service each day with a short sermon of the day, attended by many of
the vacationing Armenians. On Saturday, January 19, a requiem service was
held for Hrant Dink on the occasion of the first anniversary of his
assassination in Turkey. An overflow number of the faithful attended.
During the week a town hall type of meeting took place with a panel
discussion about issues and challenges facing the Armenian Church. Dr. Ara
Yeretzian moderated the discussion. Panelists were Archbishops Souren,
Oshagan and Khajag, and Rev. Joseph Matossian, Minister to the Armenian
Evangelical Union of North America. Their primary focus was on the mechanism
and process for reformation in the Armenian Church.

BLESSING OF MURON
The Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia announced that His Holiness
Catholicos Aram I will consecrate the Holy Muron (Holy Oil) on June 7, 2008.
The Holy Muron, symbol of the grace of the Holy Spirit, is traditionally
blessed every seven years. Only the Catholicos can consecrate the oil which
is then distributed to the various dioceses for distribution to the
parishes. The oil consists of 48 different herbs, flowers, and oils which
are combined in a special vessel and mixed with some of the old Muron, thus
creating an unbroken chain with the past. The preparation of the Holy Muron
is a long process and each stage is accompanied with special prayers. Prior
to its blessing, the Muron remains for forty days on the altar of the
Cathedral. The Muron Blessing is expected to attract a large number of
pilgrims from various parts of the world.
During this same period the World General Assembly of the Catholicosate
of the Great House of Cilicia will convene in Antelias beginning on June 3
through to June 5.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING
An international gathering of youth is being organized by the Holy See
of Cilicia. His Holiness Aram I is inviting the youth, 18 years and older,
to attend this gathering which will include a one-week pilgrimage to Der
Zor. Details will follow.

BISHOP ANOUSHAVAN DOCTORAL DISSERTATION IS PUBLISHED
Crossroads congratulates Bishop Anoushavan on the publication of his
doctoral dissertation. The Vicar’s work is on Nerses of Lambron’s
"Commentary on the Wisdom of Solomon: Introduction, Translation, and
Diplomatic Edition of the Armenian Text." His Grace has been diligently
working on preparing the text for publication, using every opportunity of
spare time-a rare commodity.
Yesterday, Bishop Anoushavan invited His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan and
the Prelacy staff to celebrate with him the culmination of many years of
work at a mid-day luncheon at the Prelacy. Archbishop Oshagan voiced the
congratulatory sentiments of all when he praised Bishop Anoushavan’s
diligence and dedication to learning and scholarship.
Bishop Anoushavan received his PhD from Columbia University in 2003
after successfully defending his dissertation. Nerses Lambronatzi was a 12th
century theologian and author who lived in Cilicia-the crossroads of the
East-West trade route on the Silk Road and a meeting place of many cultures.
As Bishop Anoushavan points out in his Preface in the book, Nerses of
Lambron is one of the outstanding church figures of the Armenian Church. He
is also one of the most controversial, because of his advocacy of a united
Christendom. The Fortress of Lambron, where Nerses was born, is located in
the northwest region of Cilicia in the Taurus Mountains. The natural beauty
of the area and the ruins of the fortress create a painful mixture of pride
and melancholy. The photo of Lambron is by Hrair Hawk Khatcherian.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, January 24, are: Proverbs 24:1-12; Jeremiah
30:18-22; 2 Timothy 3:10-12; Matthew 5:1-12.
Thus says the Lord: I am going to restore the fortunes of the tents of
Jacob, and have compassion on his dwellings; the city shall be rebuilt upon
its mound, and the citadel set on its rightful site. Out of them shall come
thanksgiving, and the sound of merrymakers. I will make them many, and they
shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be disdained.
Their children shall be as of old, their congregation shall be established
before me; and I will punish all who oppress them. Their prince shall be one
of their own, their ruler shall come from their midst; I will bring him
near, and he shall approach me, for who would otherwise dare to approach me?
says the Lord. And you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Jeremiah 30:18-22
For listing of the week’s Bible readings click here.

THIS WEEK AT THE BOOKSTORE.
First-hand accounts of genocide survivors, be it written or oral, are an
important component in the realm of genocide studies and historical
documentation. This week we call attention to two memoirs, recently
translated and published:

Passage Through Hell: A Memoir, by Armen Anush, translated by Ishkhan
Jinbashian. The author was nine years old at the beginning of the Genocide.
He witnessed the bloody atrocities during the forced march. He and his
mother survived many trials and tribulations-sometimes miraculously. His
siblings did not. When his mother dies in 1955, he is comforted that there
is a grave for her. "I’ve got plenty of dead people but no graves for them,"
he says. $15.00, plus shipping and handling.

The Fatal Night: An Eyewitness Account of the Extermination of Armenian
Intellectuals in 1915, by Mikayel Shamtanchian; translated by Ishkhan
Jinbashian. The author of this memoir lived in Istanbul, where he was a
noted orator, editor, translator, and teacher in the Armenian community. In
1915, at age 41, he was one of hundreds of Armenian intellectuals and
community leaders to be arrested on April 24, 1915. He was one of the few to
survive from this group. While relating his story, he is also relating the
story of the extermination of Istanbul’s Armenian intellectual and community
leadership. $12.00, plus shipping and handling.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THESE AND OTHER ITEMS AT THE BOOKSTORE VISIT THE
PRELACY’S WEB SITE () OR CONTACT THE BOOKSTORE BY
EMAIL, [email protected] OR BY TELEPHONE, 212-689-7810.

ZULAL ON WNYC-FM TONIGHT
Finally, we call to your attention the following: Zulal’s new release
Notes to a Crane will be featured tonight, January 24, at 11 pm on John
Schaefer’s popular program, New Sounds, heard on WNYC (93.9 FM). Schaefer
had previously featured the new CD as the pick of the week and had this to
say: "Zulal is a New York based a cappella trio who sing traditional songs
>From Armenia. Notes to a Crane is their second album and it features songs
that look back to a simpler time; village markets and lonely shepherds and
birds migrating-a favorite image among the far flung Armenian Diaspora.
There’s a bittersweet mood throughout much of the record, and even the
cheerier songs have a wistful quality to them but the arrangements are
lovely and in their own subtle way, quite clever." Those of you outside the
New York metro area can listen to it on WNYC’s website.

Calendar of Events

January 27-Seminar for Sunday School teachers and staff of St. Sarkis
Armenian Church, Dearborn, Michigan, by Deacon Shant Kazanjian, director of
the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). Theme: Prayer-Personal and
Communal.

January 31-Sts. Vartanantz Day commemoration, Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey. Morning service and Holy Liturgy at 10:30 am,
followed by a luncheon and program by Hovnanian School students.

February 2-Sts. Vartanants Sunday School, Ridgefield, New Jersey, will have
a Family Poon Paregentan Celebration dinner in the church’s large hall on at
7 pm. All are welcome. $5 per person; Sunday school students are free.

February 2-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Third Annual Celebration
of International Cuisine, 8 pm. Special evening of tasting gourmet cooking
and dancing to DJ Allen. Reservations and advance payment required. $50. per
person. For information/reservations: Amy 718-476-3050; Louiza 516-248-2955.

February 3-Young Adults Bible Study Group of St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston,
New York, presents "Integrity in the Vartanants Battle," a lecture by Ms.
Karine Macri. Immediately following Holy Mass. Refreshments. For
information: church office, 718-224-2275.

February 3-Seminar for Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church (Ridgefield, New
Jersey) Sunday School teachers and staff, conducted by Deacon Shant
Kazanjian, director of the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC).
Theme: Understanding the sacraments of Christian initiation according to the
tradition of the Armenian Orthodox Church: Baptism-Chrismation-Eucharist.

February 10-Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts, Annual Membership Meeting. Snow date: February 24.

February 10-Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church, Bethesda, Maryland,
Annual Membership Meeting at 1 p.m. following church services. Snow date:
February 17.

FEBRUARY 10-First lecture of a series presented by Education Committee of
St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, 1:15 pm. With participation of
Samvel Jeshmaridian, PhD and Elize Kiregian, M.A. Information: Church office
718-224-2275 or Dr. Arthur H. Kubikian 718-786-3842.

February 16 and 17-Ordination of Deacon Nishan Baljian to the Holy Order of
the Priesthood, by Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, at St. Stephen’s Armenian
Church, Watertown, Massachusetts. The Service of Calling to the Priesthood
will take place Saturday evening, February 16, at 6 pm. The ordination and
anointment will take place Sunday, February 17, during the Divine Liturgy
beginning at 10 a.m. Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian will serve as Dn. Nishan’s
Religious Sponsor and Col. George Rustigian will serve as his Godfather. For
more information contact the church office, 617-924-7562 or Josh Tevekelian
at 617-926-9169.

February 24-Annual Membership meeting, St. Gregory Church (North Andover,
Massachusetts).

March 2-Musical Armenia, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York City,
featuring Aleksandr Nazaryan, violist, and Karen Tchougourian, pianist.

March 2-Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey,
annual membership meeting following church services.

March 30-Second lecture of a series presented by St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York, 1:15 pm. With participation of Samvel Jeshmaridian,
PhD and Elize Kiregian, M.A. Information: church office 718-224-2275 or Dr.
Arthur H. Kubikian 718-786-3842.

April 20-Third lecture of a series presented by St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York, 1:15 pm. With participation of Samvel Jeshmaridian,
PhD and Elize Kiregian, M.A. Information: church office 718-224-2275 or Dr.
Arthur H. Kubikian 718-786-3842.

May 5-Mothers’ Day Luncheon, sponsored by the Prelacy Ladies Guild, St.
Regis, New York City. Reception at 11:30 followed by luncheon.

May 8-10-National Representative Assembly of the Eastern Prelacy, hosted by
St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts.

June 3-5-World General Assembly of the Catholicosate of the Great House of
Cilicia will convene in Antelias, Lebanon.

June 7-Blessing of Holy Muron in Antelias, Lebanon. Details will follow.

June 27 to July 6-St. Gregory of Datev Institute, Summer Christian Studies
Program for youth ages 13-18 at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council. For
more information click here.

July 19-"A Hye Summer Night 3," dance hosted by Ladies’ Guild of Sts.
Vartanantz Church and ARS Ani Chapter, Providence, Rhode Island. For details
401-434-4467.

August 15-17-International Gathering of Youth and Pilgrimage to Der Zor,
organized by the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Details will follow.

October 25-Gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America under the jurisdiction of the Great
House of Cilicia and the 110th anniversary of the establishment of the
Armenian Church of America. Marriott at Glenpointe, Teaneck, New Jersey.
Details to follow.

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web site.

To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox, add
[email protected] to your address book.

Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please credit
Crossroads as the source.

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about their
major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected]

TIGRAN KARAPETIAN HOPES THAT HE WILL MANAGE TO WIN IN CASE THE ELECTIONS ARE FAIR

Mediamax
January 17, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. We hope that if fair elections are held, we can
win, Leader of the People’s Party, candidate for the position of the
Armenian President Tigran Karapetian stated in Yerevan today.

Mediamax reports that Tigran Karapetian did not rule out the
possibility of a second round taking place, noting that "holding the
second round will be more moral".

"Victory in the first round will evidence that the candidate both
enjoys the love and the recognition of the people, as well as has
the necessary financial and other resource, which neither of the
candidates has in full measure", Tigran Karapetian stated.

At present, the leader of the People’s Party already has 100
coordination pre-election headquarters. "All in all, 300 such
headquarters are planned to be opened", Karapetian stated.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS UNDERLINES THE ROLE OF THE SEMINARY
IN THE THEOLOGICAL AND MINISTERIAL FORMATION

His Holiness Aram I returned from his ecumenical visits to Belgium,
Switzerland and Italy on the evening of October 24 and headed immediately to
the Seminary in Bikfaya, where he was welcomed by the Dean, his assistant
and students. Following the prayers in the church, the Pontiff delivered a
Pontifical message to the students.

"It’s been about a week that the Seminary has resumed its educational life.
Being in Europe on national and ecumenical missions I was not able to attend
the traditional opening ceremony of the academic year. We are happy today to
greet you all with fatherly blessing", the Catholicos said.

Stressing the importance of the Seminary, the Pontiff said: "The Seminary is
not a usual school. It is a sanctuary devoted to a sacred mission of
formation and education. Missionaries are prepared here for a holy mission:
serving our Church and our nation. It is here where the unique character of
the Seminary lies. You have come here from the ranks of our nation to become
new human being through spiritual-intellectual formation. Therefore, you
will not only receive an education from the Seminary, but also awareness for
the calling to serve. You have come from our people and will return to our
people highly holding up the flag of service."

Towards the end of his speech, the Catholicos underlined three concepts.
"Hard work, discipline and commitment. These words should become the driving
force for their life and work inside the Seminary."

The Seminary started its regular classes about a week ago under the guidance
of the Dean, V. Rev. Shahe Panossian. Rev. Masis Zoubouyan and Rev. Magar
Ashkarian act as assistants to the Dean. The faculty includes Cilician
Brotherhood members and lay teachers.

The course for the preparation of priests has also started in Antelias. Six
candidates from the dioceses of the United States, Canada, Iran and Lebanon
are participating in the course this year.

##
View the photos here:
tos/Photos54.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Seminary 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.

YESTERDAY PAKISTAN, NOW TURKEY
Ahmed Hany

American Chronicle, CA
icle.asp?articleID=41250
Oct 26 2007

One cannot separate what is happening on the Iraqi-Turkish borders
from Condi’s theory of creative chaos or the Congress’ decision to
divide Iraq. The American war on terror did not bring stability
to Central Asia. It spread wide spread chaos that crossed the
Afghani-Pakistani borders. The war for oil did not bring stability
in Iraq. It threatens Turkey now. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party,
PKK is using the Kurdish provinces of Iraq as a base to attack the
Turkish army and to conduct terrorist operations against civilians. To
confront PKK the first question that should be addressed is who arms
the PKK and who finance its operations. Drying up financial resources
and exposing arm providers will be better than engaging into risky
operations. The internal situation in Turkey presses the government
and the army to take serious steps that may not be well calculated. The
repeated terrorist acts forced the government to ask the parliament for
permission to fight. The Islamic government likes to give an impression
that it is as aggressive defendant of the state as the army, which is
the traditional defendant of the secularism. The weak Iraqi government
and the American occupying forces could not extend their control on
the Kurdish provinces that have big militias of an army size with an
intelligence body that had been formed during the sixties of the last
century with the help of the Mosad to make troubles for both Iraq and
Turkey. There is a direct Israeli interest to keep Turkey in trouble
because Turkey is the source of the Euphrates the northern border
of the Israeli project. Israel likes to see Turkey dependant upon
the Hebrew state. It plans to transfer water, oil and gas through a
Turkish under sea pipeline. There is also a direct Israeli interest
in creating a Kurdish state because this supports the Israeli view
of racial and religious division of the region. Lesser-sized Turkey
weakens one of the historical stabilizing forces in the region. The
Turkish government tries three options now. The first is the diplomatic
options to press Iraq to close the offices of the PKK and to handle
its leaders to the Turkish government to be tried there.

The second is to conduct joint military operations with the Iraqi
army and the US army against the PKK bases in the Iraqi lands. Most
probably, the central Iraqi government will just ask the Kurdistan
provinces to close offices. In fact, the provinces are more powerful
than the central government. The head of the Iraqi Kurdistan region
declared that the provinces would defend itself against any Turkish
invasion taking the side of the PKK. Joint military operations will
provoke the Iraqi Kurds against the central government and this will
boost separatists to ask for an official of the de facto divided
province. This leaves the third option open, which is a Turkish
military operation in Northern Iraq. Tactically, it is too difficult
to conduct an effective operation against Guerrillas in a short time.

This will expose the Turkish army to a form of attrition war. The
mountain of Northern Iraq needs compromise with the tribes there to
keep the army safe. Apparently, these tribes will not cooperate. The
advancing army should have good information about the bases and the
Guerrillas’ whereabouts. It has to do its best to avoid civilian
casualties especially that both France and the US’ Congress condemns
Turkey for slaughters against the Armenians under the Ottoman Empire
forgetting, their crimes against Algerians and American Indians. The
strategic risks of a failed Turkish operation are disastrous. The
extension of war into the Turkish lands will revive the Kurdish dream
of a nation in the Iraqi, Turkish, Syrian and Iranian lands. This
failure will be the first step to divide Iraq and Turkey. The domino
effect will affect a wide area from Pakistan to Morocco and it will
be the catalyst of the creative chaos theory. While Turkey fights its
integrity war, it minds very carefully its steps. Enforcing control on
the borders is better than going into doubtful adventures. Drying up
recruiting of the Kurdish separatists and their financial resources
through policy and security is much safer. The Turkish government
recognized the rights of Kurds to use their language and to keep
their culture and more political reform in this direction might be
the best way to deal with the problem.

Hayots Ashkharh Daily, Armenia
Oct 12 2007

THE WORLD HAS NO DOUBT

Yesterday President ROBERT KOCHARYAN re-confirmed official
Yerevan’s attitude towards achieving the international recognition of
the Armenian Genocide and welcomed the decision of the Foreign
Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives.
`We believe that the recognition of Genocide will receive a final
formulation in the United States. The great number of communications
we have with different countries’ officials prove one thing: there is
no doubt about what happened in 1915,’ R. Kocharyan said.
As to the situation that some countries do not recognize the fact
of the Armenian Genocide, R. Kocharyan accounted for it by the
intention of not deteriorating their relations with Turkey. `Turkey
has adopted a denial attitude with regard to this issue, but it
doesn’t mean that the country can impose such denial policy on other
countries as well,’ R. Kocharyan said.
As regards the deterioration of the Armenian-Turkish relations as
a result of the adoption of Resolution # 106, R. Kocharyan reminded
that it is impossible to deteriorate something that doesn’t exist.
`There must be a certain level of relations to allow for the
deterioration of something; today there are simply no relations
between Armenia and Turkey,’ he underscored.

ARMENIAN DRIED FRUIT IS NOT COMPETITIVE

FreshPlaza, Netherlands
Oct 3 2007

Although the makers of dried fruit in Armenia constantly assure us
that this field is developing here, the volume of imported dried
fruit is increasing every year while the volume of their export is
declining. According to data provided by the Association of Dried
Fruit Producers, 2004 saw the import of 919,542 kg of dried fruit
(mainly raisins, figs, apricots, black plums, peaches and vegetables in
a smaller amount) while 71,884 kg were exported. The volume of imports
was larger in 2005 at 1,044,957 kg, while 80,740 kg were exported.

Exports dropped sharply in 2006; 1,203,800 kg were imported and only
21,625 kg of dried fruits and vegetables – mainly tomatoes, apricots,
plums, peaches, rosehips and cherries – were exported.

The causes behind the decline in export volumes are numerous. The
director of the company Chir, Tigran Tsaturyan, cited the appreciation
of the dram as the main reason.

"We lost around 120,000 dollars over the past 2-3 years, since the
dram’s appreciation began in 2004. Moreover, our investments also
decreased over that period, because our financial circulation dropped
along with our decline in exports," said the company director. Chir
has a drying unit in the village of Sardarapat in Armavir. It
has been operational since 1998. The drying unit mainly prepares
dried tomatoes, which are exported to France and to other European
countries from there. Since 1999, 90 percent of the company’s produce
has been exported (mainly tomatoes) while 10 percent was consumed
in the domestic market. Today the company manager plans to decrease
exports to 70 percent. Exports are usually done for special orders.

"We cannot dictate prices in Europe and are forced to adapt to prices
set by producers from other countries. Obviously, in such conditions
we cease to remain competitive. The price of Armenian dried fruit is
two or three times higher than, for example, Turkish products on the
European market. Turkish dried fruit is sold fro one or two dollars,
whereas the cost of Armenian products is five or six dollars," said
Sandro Abovyan, director of the Association of Dried Fruit Producers.

There are more than 220 solar drying units operating in nine of
Armenia’s marzes. 120 of them are in Armavir. The drying unit of
Tziatzan-Ani is also located in Sardarapat (Armavir). It has been
operating since 2006. The founder of the company, Gagik Sirekanyan,
said that he had not even tried to export his products, because
price-wise they would never be competitive. The Tziatzan-Ani drying
unit produces 8-10 tons of dried fruits and vegetables annually.

"The number of dried fruit producers in Armenia is increasing, but
none of them can secure a market abroad on their own. Our objective
is to unite the dried fruit producers of Armenia. This way we can
create a common standard of quality and packaging as well as secure
the necessary quantity, exporting it under the name "Armenian Dried
Fruit"; otherwise, it is almost impossible to end up on one’s own in
the European market and stay afloat. The demand in the European market
is large volume-wise – they would need a weekly supply of around 15-20
tons of dried fruit from us," said Sandro Abovyan. This idea is still
in the planning stages, but its necessity can be felt even now.

None of the 220 drying units in Armenia export their products
(excluding the orders for dried tomatoes filled by Chir and samples
sent for participation in various expositions abroad).

Turkish Dried Fruits Imported to Armenia "Although the food security
department told me that Turkish dried fruits were not being imported
to Armenia, it is a fact – dried fruits are brought to Armenia mainly
from Turkey and Iran, I don’t know how and through which roads. I
have seen the dried fruits that are produced in Turkey and I have to
say that the products that come here from there are of bad quality,"
said the director of the Association of Dried Fruit Producers.

"There are Turkish dried fruits in Armenia. I have even seen them
being mixed with Armenian dried fruits and then sold," said the
director of Tziatzan-Ani. In this case, naturally, nobody checks
the amount of residual sulfur in Turkish dried fruits (in order to
preserve the tint of material which is light in color, it has to be
processed with anti-oxidants like sulfur dioxide, but in a regulated
amount). These dried fruits are not considered ecologically pure.

Producers of dried fruit said that the imported products, being
cheaper than Armenian dried fruit, cause problems with competition
in the domestic market as well. In 2006, imported dried fruit made up
around 70 percent of all dried fruit consumed in the domestic market.

Therefore, there is a need for imports, because the maximum total
volume of dried fruits and vegetables produced annually of Armenia’s
220 drying units is 500-1200 tons (depending on the amount of raw
material), which is not enough to meet local demand. For this reason,
dried products continue to be imported to Armenia in large volumes.

Sandro Abovyan explained this in the following way, "Imports are
rising because the population is becoming more financially secure
and the dried fruit is being consumed. It is a separate matter that
local producers are unable to keep up with the demand and importers
are taking advantage. There are complex issues in the domestic market.

They are linked to the harvest yielded in a given year as well as
the productivity and material base of the drying units. Dried fruit
production is definitely developing in Armenia – new orchards are
being planted, villagers are very flexible in this regard and are
planting trees which yield fruit fit for drying – but this development
is still sporadic and is not organized."

"It is very difficult to develop a small or medium-sized business
in Armenia. There has been a lot of talk about that, but there is no
action to back up the words. For example, we work at a level that is 70
percent of our maximum productivity. We cannot operate the remaining
30 percent because of cash flow shortages. I put my apartment up
for mortgage every year to get cash and pay the villagers and invest
something in my business. We are using our personal means to do all
this," said Gagik Sirekanyan, founder of the Tziatzan-Ani drying unit.

Dried Fruit Production is, Nonetheless, Developing

Solar drying units started developing in the 1990s. There are now 220
drying units in nine marzes. In those days, it was critical that a
unit use as little gas and energy as possible – solar drying units
were the best solution in those conditions. In the Soviet years
of planned economic development, Armenia was left out of the fruit
drying industry because that area was handed to the Central Asian
republics. But the reforms that occurred in the agriculture sector in
the 1990s independent Armenia, especially the privatization of land,
provided new perspectives for the fruit drying industry.

"Armenia has a centuries-old tradition of producing dried fruits and
grapes. There is documented proof of this from as long ago as the 5th
century B.C., when Herodotus wrote about Armenian social and political
life, noting that Armenian merchants would take wine as well as dried
apricots and peaches across the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. But this
tradition did not continue through the Soviet period. Only leftover
fruits were dried to preserve them and they were then cooked and
eaten in the winter," said Sandro Abovyan.

More than 60 percent of solar drying units are in the marzes of Armavir
and Ararat – around 35-40 percent of the dried fruits and vegetables
produced in the country are prepared here. The reason for this is
that 66 percent of apricot trees, 74 percent of peach trees and 60
percent of vineyards are located in Ararat and Armavir. The dried
fruits are mainly apricots, peaches, apples, pears, sour cherries,
cherries, rosehips, plums, figs and grapes, and the vegetables include
tomatoes, eggplants, herbs and peppers. Although the area of land
covered with orchards has grown considerably, the harvest over the
past five years has not been stable due to climatic risk zones. This
year was no exception. This means that Armenian dried fruit is set
to become even more expensive.

ARMENIA AGAINST PRESERVATION OF STATUS QUO IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH – PM

ITAR-TASS News Agency
September 25, 2007 Tuesday

Recognition of the self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno-Karabakh now
would be ill-timed, Armenia’s Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian told a
news conference at the Itar-Tass head office on Tuesday.

"The Armenian leadership has said more than once that the recognition
of Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence would be untimely and I agree with
this," Sarkisian said. "I do not exclude such possibility altogether,
but, probably, this is a means that will never have to be used."

The Armenian prime minister said that "negotiations on that issue are
in progress and the talks have not exhausted all opportunities yet."

In his opinion, "this dispute can be resolved solely through
compromises."

"The negotiating partners are unable to put forward all proposals
they have, but there will always be people who might try to upset
this process. Armenia and Azerbaijan believe that the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue must have a compromise solution."

"Armenia is against preserving the status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The ‘neither-war-nor-peace’ situation does not suit us. I am perfectly
aware that Armenia and Azerbaijan are destined to be neighbors
forever. Contacts and good relations must be established in the
interests of both countries and the entire region."

Saturday, Jul. 14, 2007
Why Putin Pulled out of a Key Treaty
By Yuri Zarakhovich

_time.com_ ()

Far be it from anyone to cast a shadow over the famous Maine
lobster. But even this fabled treat failed to work as a sweetener on
Russian President Vladimir Putin. On the way to Kennebunkport, where
President George W. Bush’s family were receiving "friend Vladimir"
earlier his month, Putin had been particularly fretting about the
prospective deployment in Europe of the U.S.

Anti-Ballistic Missile system (ABM), a shield against missiles that
rogue countries, Iran in particular, may be able to launch in
future. In addition to ABM, which Putin considers a threat to Russia,
NATO failed to ratify the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE) –
a key European arms control treaty that has been regulating the
deployment of troops and the monitoring of weapons systems on the
continent since 1990. Still, the Kennebunkport was full of good cheer,
great fishing and conciliatory hints that these newly risen
U.S.-Russian tensions would soon ease up.

Nevertheless, six pounds of choice Maine lobster and two weekends
later, Putin delivered on a long-promised threat. Early Saturday
morning, the Kremlin abruptly announced Putin’s decree to halt
Russia’s participation in the CFE treaty due to "extraordinary
circumstances … which affect the security ofthe Russian Federation
and require immediate measures."

Putin’s "extraordinary circumstances" are clear: first, he says
missile shield in Europe will see through entire Russia’s defenses all
the way to the Urals; Russia seeks to counter that, but the treaty
stands very much in theway.

Second, NATO countries have failed to ratify the treaty’s 1999 amended
version – a failure that Putin insists upsets the balance of forces in
Europe. For their part, NATO countries hold that the amended version
required that Moscow withdraw troops from Moldova and Georgia, which
it hasn’t completed, and refuse to ratify until Russia fully complies.

Within hours of the Kremlin’s announcement, the Russian Foreign
Ministry said that Russia will halt inspections and verifications of
its military sites by NATO countries and will no longer limit the
number of its conventional weapons. Russia, however, had already
halted such verification visits after a CFE treaty conference held in
Vienna last month turned a deaf ear to Russia’s complaints; military
delegations from Bulgaria and Hungary had been deniedentry to Russian
military units. Also last month, Russia turned down an invitation to
take part in joint exercises with the U.S., Romania and
Bulgaria. General Vladimir Shamanov, particularly notorious for
aggressive tactics in Chechnya and now advisor to the Russian Defense
Minister, said: "The Soviet Army took part in joint exercises with the
Nazi Germany. Which resulted in Germany’s perfidiously attacking the
USSR. What trust there can be now, if the US is deploying bases in
Romania and Bulgaria?"

There is wide speculation that Putin’s idea of "immediate measures"
will be to build up its forces in border areas now that it is free of
the CFE treaty.

Last month, First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, who
increasingly positions himself as Putin’s hawkish potential successor,
said that Russia would deploy its newly tested Iskander-M cruise
missiles in is westernmost Kaliningradsky region, wedged among Poland,
Lithuania and Belarus, unless the U.S. scrapes its defense shield
bases in Poland and the Czech Republic. Ivanov’s threats only
infuriated Poland and made Lithuania consider asking the U.S. for
deploying its ABM on its soil as well. However, cruise and new MIRVED
ICBM missiles, promised to be re-targeted on Europe, are not the only
ace up Putin’s sleeve. Other measures, like troop build-ups along
southern borders in the Caucasus, new pressures on Ukraine to maintain
the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the Crimea beyond the 2017 withdrawal
deadline, and a refusal to leave Moldova are all in the offing among
other measures.

Vladimir Ryzhkov, a democratic opposition leader and a rare
independent member of the Duma, maintains that since the U.S. started
this controversy by walking out of the ABM Treaty in 2002, there is a
grain of truth in Putin’s assertion that Russia was forced to
respond. But Ryzhkov sees Putin’s saber-rattling as "primarily an
election year message to the country: ‘Your leader won’t budge, no
matter who formally becomes next President’." Polls show that this
line works, Ryzhkov says: the Russians really buy it.

But the rest of the world may not. The European Union and NATO have
already expressed their regrets about Putin’s action. "It is a step in
the wrong direction," NATO spokesman James Appathurai said in
Brussels.

In fact, as no provision for a unilateral moratorium was built into
the CFE treaty, Russia’s action amounts to non-compliance, strictly
speaking. It might indeed be designed for domestic consumption. Or it
might be just an act of blackmail in Putin’s new brinkmanship with the
U.S. But it also might be serious water testing on his part to see how
far he can stretch his empire-building muscle and get away with it.

HAS BAKU BECOME THE CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES?

By Haroutiun Khachatrian

Noyan Tapan Highlights
30 April, 2007

[The article below is slightly amended/updated by the author,
from the original as published in NT Highlights –AB]

The human rights reports are prepared by the U.S. State Department in
an annual basis, and include the description of the human rights
record as assessed by the American officials based on all kind of
available information. It usually does not go out of the scopes of
human rights, as part of society of each country.

REPORT NOT ONLY ON HUMAN RIGHTS

In the 2006 Human Rights reports for Armenia and Azerbaijan released
on March 6, 2007, the above rule was broken, as an indication of
political nature has appeared, namely, about the problem of Nagorno
Karabakh.

In fact, the previous years, the problems related to the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict did have their place in the respective reports. But
they were strongly limited to the humanitarian issues. For example, in
the 2005 report for Armenia, there were the following two references
to the NK conflict.

Fragment one:

`In contrast to previous years, there were no civilian deaths due to
landmines; however, the government reported six soldiers died from
injuries sustained from landmines. All parties involved in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict had laid landmines along the 540-mile border
with Azerbaijan and the line of contact.’

Fragment two:

`The few Muslims who remained in the country after the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict kept a low profile.’

The 2006 report was a striking difference. The Armenia report
contained the following fragment about the Karabakh conflict.

`ARMENIA CONTINUES TO OCCUPY THE AZERBAIJANI TERRITORY OF
NAGORNO-KARABAKH AND SEVEN SURROUNDING AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES. All
parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have laid landmines along the
540?mile border with Azerbaijan and along the line of contact. During
the year there were reports that a landmine killed one civilian and
unexploded ordnance killed another. `

The fragment about the `low-profile Muslims’ was absent in the 2006
report. Maybe they were no low-profile any more.

WASHINGTON CHANGES OPINION THREE TIMES A WEEK

The outlined fragment above caused the natural concerns of the
Armenian government for the obvious reason that it contained an
indication about the possible belonging of the disputed enclave, which
was the subject of the ongoing negotiations. To remind, the
negotiations are mediated by the three co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk
group, the United States being one of them. Armenian Foreign Minster
Vartan Oskanian declared the mentioned phrase was an error and said he
had the promise of the American officials to correct the error (see,
for example, the Noyan Tapan Highlights, March 26).

And indeed, on April 20, the phrase shown in uppercase in the
above-mentioned fragment was changed to the following on the official
site of the U.S. State Department:

`ARMENIAN FORCES OCCUPY LARGE PORTIONS OF AZERBAIJAN TERRITORY
ADJACENT TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH. ARMENIAN OFFICIALS MAINTAIN THAT THEY DO
NOT "OCCUPY" NAGORNO-KARABAKH ITSELF.’ In other words, no indication
as for the part of which country NK was.

Not unexpectedly, this change caused protests of the official Baku as
Azerbaijan claims Nagorno Karabakh to be its part, as it was under the
Soviet rule. These protests were replied by Matthew Bryza, deputy
assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian affairs, who is
also in charge as the American representative at the Minsk group.

On April 25, he gave his comments to the Voice of America. Azeri Press
Agency quoted his following words in the interview. "The changes to
the initial 2006 State Department Country Reports on Human Rights
Practices are right. The previous variant of the report was wrong. The
situation needed clarifying, because the current stage of negotiations
on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is very delicate,"

According to the APA, Mr Bryza had further said that he respects
Azerbaijan’s position but being a mediator he can not support any of
the parties. "The initial variant of the report noted that Nagorno
Karabakh is under Armenia’s occupation. This is Azerbaijan’s
position. We understand and respect this position. But as mediators we
can not support any of the parties. Armenia’s position is that they
have not occupied Nagorno Karabakh. The amendment made to the report
does not mean to support one of the parties. We only stated that
Armenian government says they have not occupied Nagorno Karabakh," he
said.

Finally, according to the APA report, noting that the current stage of
negotiations is promising, Matthew Bryza underlined that the main
topic of discussion is connected with the status of Nagorno
Karabakh. "If our position is a little closer to the position of one
of the sides, we might cast shadow on the results of the
negotiations. The negotiations are being held between the parties to
the conflict, and the US is just a mediator."

Everything looked normal, and according to other reports, Bryza
had made it clear that the State Department’s decision about the
change was not subject to further adjustments. However, on the next
day, people was amazed to discover on the State Department site the
old version of the mentioned paragraph, that very version that the
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State had clearly qualified as
MISTAKE. Just on the previous day.

The observers speculated that the reverse changes in the text
were made under the pressure of Baku, which, immediately protested the
April 20 move and later cancelled a planned visit to Washington by a
high-level government delegation which was to hold negotiations on
`security issues.’ Of course the American side was quick to deny
this. Radio Liberty said an official at the department’s Bureau of
European and Eurasian Affairs told RFE/RL from Washington on the
condition of anonymity: `We were trying to correct some unclear
language that led to confusion about our policy. We’ve determined that
our policy has not changed and that we need to stand by the original
human rights report. I think this whole thing from our side was a
mistake in the way that it was handled, and I’m sorry that that
mistake has led to all of this exaggerated press attention and has
been blown out of proportion.’

Anywhere, it was difficult to guess and other reason than the
blackmailing of Baku, which could make the State Department to
humiliate his top representative in the region, Mr Bryza. Evidently,
the decision about the reverse change was made in Baku, rather than in
Washington. It remains to see if Baku will decide to fire Mr Bryza for
his incorrect statements.

ARE THE UNITED STATES A FAIR BROKER FOR THE NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE?

I am afraid, the answer is negative. It is not only due to the
surprising weathercock-type behavior of the superpower during the last
week. I see the signs of shift in the Washington’s position from
neutral in the very fact of changing its position in preparing its
regular Human Rights Report itself. In fact, as shown above, this year
the State Department has changed its long-term practice and has
included a phrase having no relation to the human rights but touching
upon the sensitive inter-state issue of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Such a
change could not be accidental, rather it was planned to serve as a
leverage to press on the Armenian side. The Bush administration looks
ready to sacrifice its good reputation in the Karabakh process for
some other purpose. For the mentioned `security talks’ for example.