Author: Boshkezenian Garik

ArmenPress
Aug 20 2004
SMUGGLING OF CATTLE STAVED OFF ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER
GIUMRI, AUGUST 20, ARMENPRESS: On August 19, border guards staved
off attempted violation of Armenian-Turkish border and smuggling of
cattle to Turkey on Verin Shen border line in Shirak region. Three
citizens of Armenian origin have been detained trying to smuggle
about thirty cattle to Turkey. The border headquarters in Giumri
handed over the violators to Armenian interior affairs regional
department. A criminal case is initiated into the case.
Illegal smuggling of cattle from Armenia to Turkey have increased
due to rise of meat prices in the neighboring country. The latest
case was reported in July in Zarishat border zone. Investigation is
under way into the case. During the seven months of the running year,
54 cases of border violations have been reported with total goods of
350,000 Russian rubbles confiscated, including cattle mainly.
According to border guard headquarters, mostly Armenian, Turk and
Kurd criminal groups are engaged in smuggling on the border lines.

Tulare Advance Register, CA
Aug 14 2004
Good Deeds; Good News

Often good deeds and good news go unnoticed. This column, which runs
every Saturday, provides an avenue to get those good deeds and that
good news into the paper.
Here are this week’s items:
Good deeds
Principal excited about Ag-science students
Sundale Principal Cliff Gordon is excited about the work the kids in
the school’s Ag-science classes continue to do, and a cleanup on
Friday was no exception.
“Ag-science is part of the curriculum,” Gordon said. “The kids do
different things in relation to beautification of the school. The
work they’re doing [Friday] is part of a last-minute, final cleanup
because we’re getting ready to plant grass for a new baseball and
football field.”
The students aren’t the only ones working. Sundale parent volunteers
put in an irrigation system for the 16 acres of land purchased by the
school for the recreation area. The site is just north of the school
on Lovers Lane.
No buildings will be constructed on the land. It’s reserved for
recreation like soccer, football, baseball and a little park for the
Sundale community.
In three weeks, the Ag-science students will cut Ber-muda grass from
a neighboring farmer and replant it at the school.
“They probably do a lot of our landscaping as part of their
curriculum,” Gordon said. “But, even though it’s part of the
curriculum, if a student says that’s not something they want to do we
find an alternative for them. None of them have to do it.”
Administrators said they hope to have the site ready for baseball in
spring.
FFA officer visits Washington, D.C.
Grace Berryhill, 18, of Tulare was one of more than 100 FFA officers
who gathered in Washington, D.C., last month to strengthen skills in
leadership and citizenship and discuss national FFA business as part
of the National FFA State Presidents’ Conference.
Berryhill is the daughter of Bruce and Carol Berryhill. She is the
president of the California FFA Association.
The group attended the conference to prepare for their
responsibilities as delegates and committee chairs for the 2004
National FFA Convention, to be held in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 27-30.
FFA is a national youth organization of 464,267 student members
preparing for
leadership careers in science, business and technology of
agriculture, with 7,194 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and
the Virgin Islands. Information:
Former Tularean receives Fresno honor
Former Tularean Evelyn Michigian of Fresno was one of 40 Fresnan’s
depicted in “Fresno’s Finest Faces: Common Citizens Working for the
Common Good.”
This photographic exhibition by Jose Garza and Shari Savage was on
display at Fresno City Hall.
In addition to serving as librarian and administrative assistant to
the Fresno First Armenian Presbyterian Church Chancel and Choir,
Michigian serves as a volunteer staff member of United Way and serves
in the day surgery waiting room at Children’s Hospital Central
California.
Michigian graduated from Tulare Union High School with the class of
1943.
If you have a good deed to recognize, or good news to share, call the
Tulare Advance-Register newsroom at 688-0521.

CASE ON BEATING IN GAFE “BUNKER” INVESTIGATED IN PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
OF KENTRON AND NORK-MARASH COMMUNITIES
YEREVAN, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). The case on the beating of the US
citizen David Bekker in the Yerevan cafe “Bunker” is in the
Prosecutor’s Office of the Kentron and Nork-Marash Communities of the
city. Alexan Andreasian, Prosecutor of the above-mentioned
communities, told NT’s correspondent that the case is at the stage of
study and the decision will be made in a set term on the basis of
investigation. To recap, as a result of the beating D. Bekker got
bodily injuries which, according to the investigation, were inflicted
by Arsen Harutiunian. According to the press publications, the latter
is the son of Colonel-General Mikael Harutiunian, Chief of the General
Staff of the RA Armed Forces.

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

TOTAL CAPITAL OF ARMENIA’S BANKING SYSTEM WILL GREW BY 25% BY 2005
YEREVAN, AUGUST 9. ARMINFO. Total capital of Armenia’s banking system
will grew by 25% or by 12.2 bln drams in the current and will reach
61.1 bln drams by 2005. Such is the forecast of commercial banks based
on their strategic plans of development. In particular, a 60.2% growth
of the total capital will be secured due to the expected increase in
the undistributed profits to 14.4 bln drams, which totals 23.5% of the
capital, and 25% due to the raising of the authorized capital, which
will total 39.1 bln drams by 2005. Thus, according to forecasts,
investments by non-residents into the authorized capital will make up
2.4 bln drams within 2004, as a result the share of foreign capital in
the authorized fund will increase by 2.4 per cent reaching 45.7%. The
tendency towards growth of foreign capital in the authorized one will
continue till 2007, reaching 49.2%. Alongside with this, a 33.6%
growth in the undistributed profits is expected, which will reach 21.2
bln drams by 2007.
By 2007, the total capital of Armenia’s banking system will reach 89.6
bln drams, in particular, as compared to the beginning of 2004, the
growth of this indicator will total 83.4%, 34% of which will be the
share of the authorized capital, 57.5% that of the undistributed
profits. In the given period of time, total capital of six commercial
banks will exceed $10 mln, that of the two banks $8-10 mln, the
capital of four banks will total $6-8 mln, that of the remaining 6
banks – $5 mln.
Capital-aggregate assets ratio will reach 18.1% by 2005 and 21.5% by
2007, meanwhile, this indicator was 17.1% at the beginning of 2004.

Transitions Online, Czech Republic
9 August 2004
Frozen Conflicts: Time to Challenge Russia
by Robert Cottrell
The frozen conflicts in Moldova and the southern Caucasus are becoming
top-level issues – and if the EU and the next U.S. president apply the right
pressure, Russia will change its position.
To call South Ossetia a “rebel region” or a “breakaway province” of Georgia
flatters it with the language of political struggle. Better to think of it
as a Russian-backed smuggling racket with a large piece of land attached.
The sooner the land returns to Georgian control, the better for everyone.
Georgia has an interest in South Ossetia’s peace and prosperity. Russia has
none.
Of the four “frozen conflicts” in the Black Sea region, that of South
Ossetia has the merit of being the most straightforward. The separatist
“government” now in place there has nothing to be said for it at all,
whatever the factors that sent South Ossetia to war with Tbilisi more than a
decade ago. The presence of Russian “peacekeeping” forces, backing up the
South Ossetian authorities, ensures the continuation, not resolution, of
this conflict within Georgia.
The case of Transdniester, in Moldova, is almost as straightforward. There,
too, Russian troops and Russian diplomacy prop up an illegal separatist
regime that divides and cripples the country. They obstruct, rather than
facilitate, a constitutional settlement giving Transdniester extensive
autonomy, to which Moldova would readily subscribe.
A third frozen conflict, over Abkhazia, another rebel province of Georgia,
is comparable to that in Transdniester. Abkhazia’s history also gives it a
more persuasive claim to some form of special political status. Georgia is
ready to talk. But, again, by sponsoring and protecting an Abkhaz government
that appears to live mainly off smuggling, Russia obstructs a better
solution.
The fourth frozen conflict, over Nagorno-Karabakh, is different again.
Russia has an influence here, but so far a more constructive one, as
Armenia’s main political ally. Karabakh, an Armenian-populated part of
Azerbaijan, has formed a de facto union with Armenia since winning a war
of secession from Azerbaijan in 1994. The absence of a permanent
settlement stunts the economic and political development of Armenia and
Azerbaijan, and leaves both vulnerable to fresh waves of nationalism and
militarism.
TOP-LEVEL PROBLEMS…
At long last, these four frozen conflicts look set to attract the attention
they deserve–which is a step toward solving them. There are several reasons
for making this guardedly optimistic claim.
One is the election of President Mikheil Saakashvili in Georgia, following
last November’s “rose revolution” when crowds fed up with corruption and
vote-rigging drove out Eduard Shevardnadze.
Previously, the Caucasus had had no leader capable of capturing America’s
attention, still less its enthusiasm. (Shevardnadze had, at most, the
sympathies of some Washington veterans, not for his record in Georgia but
for his earlier role as Gorbachev’s foreign minister.)
Saakashvili has the charm and energy of youth, the advantage of good
English, and a clear commitment to liberal democracy, which he proposes to
apply to the whole of his country. His arrival on the scene, his popularity,
and his policies offer living proof that things can go right in the southern
Caucasus. That matters a lot to foreign policymakers, who need to believe
that success is at least possible before they get involved in any problem.
A second factor that may help thaw the frozen conflicts is the decline of
Western confidence in Russia. Until now the West has allowed Russia the lead
role in managing (or, rather, mismanaging) the problems of Moldova and the
Caucasus. But the Yukos case, together with the continuing Chechen War and
President Vladimir Putin’s suppression of free broadcast media, have
persuaded Western governments that Russia is moving away from them in its
political values and toward more authoritarian ones. They cannot trust its
intentions, as they tried to do when Putin came to power.
President George Bush’s freedom to review his Russian policy has been
hampered by his absurd declaration three years ago that he saw into Vladimir
Putin’s soul and knew he could trust the man. But, embarrassing as it may be
for Bush personally, the U.S.-Russia relationship has been getting so much
less trusting over the past year or two that a new and tougher U.S. policy
can only be a matter of time. The United States will certainly move in that
direction if John Kerry wins this year’s presidential election and if his
administration begins, as new administrations usually do, with a skeptical
review of the policies of its predecessor; and it will probably do so if
Bush wins and appoints a new secretary of state.
A third factor pushing frozen conflicts up the transatlantic policy agenda
is the eastward enlargement of NATO and the European Union, coupled with the
heightened U.S. interest–after 9/11 and the wars in Afghanistan and
Iraq–in what it calls the Greater Middle East, with Turkey at its
northwestern corner.
Moldova and the countries of the southern Caucasus suddenly find themselves
a center of strategic interest. They are neighbors of NATO and future
neighbors of the EU. As such, their stability must be watched and nourished.
They are a platform for displaying and projecting Western values to the
south and east.
The fact that Europe and America now have a clear reason to want these
countries as reliable allies gives an equally compelling reason to want an
end to the frozen conflicts, which destabilize these countries from within
while also posing wider threats. A recent study from the U.S.-based German
Marshall Fund describes the conflict zones as “unresolved fragments of
Soviet Empire [which] now serve as shipping points for weapons, narcotics,
and victims of human trafficking, as breeding grounds for transnational
organized crime, and last but not least, for terrorism.”*
… DESERVE TOP-LEVEL DIPLOMACY
Of all the frozen conflicts, it is Karabakh that has so far come closest to
a solution, in 2001. The Azeri president of the day, Heidar Aliev, died
before he had quite overcome his hesitations, but the broad outlines of a
deal remain clear to both Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Broadly speaking, Azerbaijan would cede Karabakh to Armenia. In exchange,
Azerbaijan would get back other territories that Armenia has occupied since
the civil war, plus a narrow corridor of land across Armenia, giving
Azerbaijan access to its exclave of Nakhichevan, which is wedged between
Armenia and Iran.
The deal will be done when Ilham Aliev, the new president of Azerbaijan, has
the self-confidence to do it–unless Russia interferes, worrying that peace
and stability would draw Armenia, its main ally in the southern Caucasus,
too close to the West. Russia could use its considerable military and
economic leverage within Armenia to that end; or it might hint at tilting
its foreign relations in favor of Azerbaijan, reawakening Armenia’s fears.
Karabakh is a special case. Russia’s role there is important, but secondary.
For the other three frozen conflicts, persuading Russia to cooperate will be
three-quarters of the work needed to find a solution: the regimes in
Transdniester, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia survive thanks only to Russian
military and diplomatic support.
Russia is not making it easy. As it retreats from democracy, so its
political workings become more opaque, and its true intentions even harder
to discern. But whatever the mix of signals Russia sends out, they have one
fairly constant theme. It is the desire for respect and authority in the
world. So this is the front on which the West should challenge Russia.
The West should tell Putin, directly and preferably publicly, that Russia’s
proclamations against crime and terrorism and secessionism elsewhere in the
world cannot be taken seriously as long as Russia goes on sponsoring
criminal regimes that undermine regional security and cripple legitimate
governments in its own back yard. It should say that the miserable bit of
local leverage that Russia gets from manipulating the frozen conflicts in
Georgia and Moldova is far less than the wider respect and authority that it
forfeits by doing so.
The West needs to put the case in exactly those blunt terms if it wants to
make Russia shift its position. Untruth and evasion are an integral part of
Russian foreign policy. Challenging those untruths and evasions is the
necessary first step toward changing the realities they obscure.
Russia will shift its position, if pressed in the right way, because
Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transdniester don’t really matter very much to
it in the end. A few crooks in Russia profit from their rebellion
commercially, and a few nationalists in the Russian Duma politically. But
they are not worth much of Putin’s political capital. If these problems can
be taken to the top, they will be settled more easily than by argument at
lower levels, where narrow lobbies fight their corners.
This top-level diplomacy will be a job mainly for the United States, whose
president can command Putin’s attention in a way no European leader can. But
the European Union has much complementary work to do.
First, the EU must echo America’s political message. Second, it must follow
through on the idea of its “New Neighborhood” policy, offering the Black Sea
countries more access to EU markets and more EU aid, in exchange for
good-government reforms. Third, it must use its leverage with Turkey, a
candidate for EU membership, to persuade Turkey to normalize relations with
Armenia. If Turkey were to reopen its borders to Armenia, which it closed as
a gesture of support for Azerbaijan, it would reduce Armenia’s siege-induced
dependence on Russia, give Armenia’s economy a boost, and so encourage
conditions for a Karabakh peace deal.
An argument with Russia over the frozen conflict zones will be doubly worth
having, because by winning it, and by helping Georgia and Moldova emerge as
normal countries, the West will help Russia, too. It can only improve
Russia’s security and prosperity to have strong and settled states on its
borders. Russia half-knows that, too, but needs to be prodded into acting on
it. The year or two of hard haggling needed for the West to change Russia’s
behavior would be time well-spent.
* see: “A New Euro-Atlantic Strategy for the Black Sea Region,” ed. R Asmus,
K Dimitrov, J Forbrig; GMF, 2004; Page 21. The book is also available in
PDF.
—
Robert Cottrell is The Economist’s correspondent for Central and Eastern
Europe, and a member of TOL’s advisory board. A former Moscow correspondent
for The Economist and for the Financial Times, he visited Georgia and
Armenia in July.

Perpetual War or Perpetual Peace?
Published in “Panorama”, Institute of War and Peace Reporting, July 2004
Hikmet Hajizade, Vice-President of FAR Centre, Baku
Baku
13 June 2004
“And how is the Karabakh conflict?” a famous Pakistani journalist
asked me at a seminar in a small German town. “Just the same, the
conflict continues, there’s no peace, no war,” I replied. “How
interesting,” he said with a smile. “The break-up of the USSR began
with this conflict. Now the USSR no longer exists and the conflict is
still continuing?”
Yes, on the whole things are pretty much the same. But we can notice
some changes which are unfortunately changes for the worse. What I
have in mind is Azerbaijani public opinion on the Karabakh issue,
which could be described as close to despair. “It’s impossible to
fight, Russia is behind Armenia, while the West is stubbornly
demanding a peace settlement to secure it’s investments in Azerbaijani
oil. Negotiations, with all possible mediators, have been going on
for years and lead to nothing. Oil diplomacy (our oil in return for
Western support on the Karabakh issue) has brought no
results. People’s diplomacy, sponsored by the West, has also failed?”
So there is a growing feeling in society that Azerbaijan is betrayed
and besieged on all sides. Society is close to a frustration which has
begun to be expressed in uncontrolled hatred and its desperate
manifestations very similar to what is happening in the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
“And we understand this despair and hatred,” well-known Armenian
journalist Mark Grigorian told me several years ago at a conference in
Tbilisi. “First it was you who were victorious for a long time (it
seems he meant the Armenian-Turkish conflicts of the last thoutsand
years) and we it was us who hated you. Now we have defeated you and
you are hating us…”
I didn’t have an answer to this piercing observation, I just felt
despair. What is the solution here? If, inshallah, we manage to
defeat them, then they will hate us again and we will carry on
destroying each other till the end of the world. Are we to have
perpetual war?
It seems that the question “who, in the end, finally won in history”
is one of the main questions, if not the prime question, in the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Of course the issues of protecting the
rights of national minorities and of individuals are important and so
is the role of the super-powers. But “who, in the end, finally
won…?” is still more important for us?
But of course there will be no final victory here, only perpetual
despair and hatred and it is time we all understood this. And
generally whichever of the opposing sides “won” a certain round in
this millenium-long dispute failed to understand this. Today Armenia
has won and it now wants to “cooperate” with us, hoping that
cooperation will heal the wounds of defeat. But it is not working:
“There can be no cooperation with the occupiers of our land,” even new
head of state Ilham Aliev said recently and his words reflect public
opinion in Azerbaijan.
As long as this problem is unsolved no road can lead us to peace. Even
if well-intentioned international powers force peace on us, our hatred
will only be driven deep inside us and could flare up again.
Our mentality, our view of the world and history, have to change. We
have to understand that all these “noble historical victories” were
nothing but the pillage and violent eviction of neighbours in the era
of a battle of all against all for limited resources — and that now
these resources over which we destroyed each other have lost whatever
value they once had.
Our confrontational mentality can’t be changed by “third forces” or
written constitutions and ratified European conventions on human
rights. It can change only as a result of honest and free discussion
conducted by citizens of a free country. So I believe that for
perpetual war to be replaced by perpetual peace our countries should
become democratic. Or as Kant wrote in his “Perpetual Peace”: “The
Civil Constitution of Every State (that wants perpetual peace) Should
Be Republican”.
Before beginning negotiations (negotiations with international
mediators, bilateral negotiations or negotiations within the framework
of people’s diplomacy), the parties ought to pay attention to
themselves! The parties ought to become republics, free and diverse
discussions have to begin in their societies about anything and
everything that is of concern to their citizens. The societies have to
find the civic courage in themselves to throw off their historical
ghosts and discuss the problem of perpetual war and perpetual
peace. And if the international community wants to help our countries
establish Perpetual Peace, it should stop spending money on senseless
“joint projects and research” and help our countries become honest and
open, help them become democratic. Democracies do not fight one
another?
As for Azerbaijan, which is sunk in its internal political despair and
internal political apathy, then I have to forecast that Karabakh,
which we have desired all this time, won’t return until we build a
democratic society. Even if Azerbaijan is three times as strong as
Armenia, the world won’t allow a government which oppresses its
citizens to extend its inhuman rule to the Armenian national minority?
I don’t intend to forget about the influence of third forces or the
role of superpowers in fanning the conflict but I believe that first
we have to get to grips with ourselves and then it will be clearer
what we should do about third forces?
Earlier this year I met Mark Grigorian again in Durban, South Africa,
at the Third Assembly of the Word Movement for Democracy. Mark had had
to leave his country and move to London because he was being
persecuted in Armenia for his journalistic work. I was also reluctant
to leave the fairytale beauty of Durban to go home to a country which,
after the presidential elections at the end of 2003, had suffered a
massive crackdown on opposition activists and protestors.
It occurred to me later that, without agreeing to do so, neither of us
uttered a word about the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict. Mark showed me
the wounds left by the exploding grenade which had left 32 pieces of
shrapnel in his body which pro-government forces had thrown at him. I
told him about torture in our prisons which our citizens who protested
against mass vote-rigging in the presidential elections endured.
No desire emerged to destroy one another, even in argument. The desire
emerged to help one another?

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
Crossroads E-Newsletter August 5, 2004
CATHOLICOS ARAM I ISSUES STATEMENT
ON BOMBING OF CHRISTIAN SITES IN IRAQ
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, issued a
statement on the bombing of churches in Iraq on August 1. One of the
churches that was hit was the Armenian Catholic Church in Baghdad. The
Christian population in Iraq is estimated to be about 800,000 of which
approximately 20,000 are Armenians.
His Holiness said:
For centuries Christians and Muslims have lived together in the Middle
East. Centuries of coexistence, interaction and dialogue of life have
created close affinities in different spheres of society life as well as
common values and traditions. Therefore, the Christian-Moslem coexistence is
neither a conceptual notion nor an imposed reality, it is an integral and
inseparable part of the societies in the Middle East. Violence in all its
forms and expressions is against human and religious values and principles.
We have repeatedly stressed the need for dialogue, solidarity, mutual
tolerance, respect and understanding. Neither Islam nor Christianity will
accept violence as a way to solve problems. Bombing of Christian churches in
Iraq is a deep harm against the Christian-Moslem existence. Both Christians
and Moslems with their equal obligations and rights are co-citizens of the
Arab countries. It is my firm expectation that the government of Iraq will
take the necessary measures to protect the rights and the well being of all
citizens. It is also my expectations that Christians and Muslims in Iraq and
in different parts of the Middle East will continue their dialogue and
collaboration based on shared values and aspirations, and strengthen their
commitment to peace and justice.
We pray for peace and understanding in the entire region.
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL TRAVEL
TO HOLY SEE OF CILICIA, ANTELIAS, LEBANON
His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan will leave for Lebanon on
Wednesday, August 11, where he will meet with the Catholicos, His Holiness
Aram I. The church leaders will discuss various projects for next year
including programs related to the 75th anniversary of the Theological
Seminary of the See of Cilicia.
Archbishop Oshagan will also examine the papers of the late Archbishop
Zareh Aznavourian related to the church and especially the Bible translation
project he and the late Archbishop were collaborating on since the early
1980s. Archbishop Oshagan will also discuss with the Catholicos the ways and
means to continue the translation project. One of the final thoughts
expressed by Zareh Srpazan was his regret that the translation project was
unfinished.
PAN-ARMENIAN CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION IS UNDERWAY IN LEBANON
Initiated by His Holiness Aram I and organized by the Catholicate of
Cilicia, the Diaspora conference on Armenian education began today, August
5, in the main hall of the Theological Seminary in Bikfaya, Lebanon. The
theme of the conference is Armenian education in the Diaspora. Approximately
100 specialists and intellectuals from all communities of the Diaspora are
in attendance and will address this timely issue with their different
perspectives and contexts.
The conference began with a critical and analytical evaluation of the
present state of Armenian education in the Diaspora and will identify
emerging concerns and will endeavor to redefine Armenian education within
the context of new challenges and realities. The conference will continue
through Saturday, August 7.
The Minister of Education, the president of the Cultural and Educational
Commission of the Parliament and the president of the Armenian writers in
Armenia are expected to attend.
His Holiness addressed the opening session of the conference today and
will participate throughout the proceedings.
Ms Gilda Kupelian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Education
Committee (ANEC), Ms Nayiri Balanian, chair of ANEC, and Ms Houry Boyamian,
Principal of St. Stephen Elementary School in Watertown, Massachusetts, are
attending the conference.
75th ANNIVERSARY OF CILICIAN SEMINARY
TO BE COMMEMORATED NEXT YEAR
The year 2005 marks the 75th anniversary of the Theological Seminary of
the Holy See of Cilicia. His Holiness Aram I is expected to issue an
encyclical in January in honor of this occasion asking all dioceses within
the See of Cilicia to mark this occasion with appropriate commemorations.
Also celebrated next year is the 10th anniversary of the election and
consecration of His Holiness Aram I.
The Seminary’s anniversary will be marked at different times during the
entire year beginning in January through to December in all of the dioceses
within the jurisdiction of the Cilician See. His Holiness is expected to
attend the various commemorative events around the world, including the
Eastern Prelacy from October 21 to November 8.
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL PRESIDE
OVER ANDASTAN SERVICE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK
The Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, accompanied by V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan
Tanielian, Vicar General, and Archdeacon Shant Kazanjian, Executive Director
of the Armenian Religious Education Council, will travel upstate New York to
the village of Mountaindale in the Catskill Mountains, where they will spend
the day with a large group of Armenian American vacationers this Saturday,
August 7. Archbishop Oshagan together with Hayr Anoushavan and Deacon Shant
will perform the Andastan service (Blessing of the Four Corners) and the
Blessing of Grapes ceremony.
COUNCIL OF EPHESUS REMEMBERED
This Saturday, August 7, the Armenian Church commemorates the Council of
Ephesus (431). The third general council was summoned by Emperor Theodosius
II in 431 to settle the Nestorian heresy. Nestorius was dethroned and exiled
to Egypt. The council affirmed the Nicene Creed and approved Theotokos
(Godbearer) as a title for the Virgin Mary.
Ephesus was the main city of the Roman province of Asia, at the
crossroads of the coastal route between Smyrna and Cyzicus. The temple of
Artemis in the city was one of the great wonders of the ancient world. Paul
took Christianity to Ephesus and stayed there for two years on his third
missionary journey (Acts, chapters 18 and 19).
Ephesus did not satisfy everyone and this led to a lasting schism in the
Church. Theologians attempted to formulate a compromise and met at
Chalcedon, on the eastern shore of the Bosporus across from Constantinople.
The Armenian Church did not attend and refused to accept the decisions of
the Council of Chalcedon on the nature of Christ and continued to abide by
the resolutions of the Council of Ephesus. The Armenian Church accepts the
legitimacy of three Ecumenical Councils: Nicaea (325), Constantinople (381),
and Ephesus (431).
In recent years there has been promising dialogue between the
Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian churches. In a joint statement issued on
December 13, 1996, Pope John Paul II and Catholicos Karekin I (of blessed
memory) welcomed the great advance that their churches have registered in
their common search for unity in Christ.
FAST OF ASSUMPTION OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
The Armenian Church celebrates eight feasts of the Holy Mother of God.
This Sunday, August 8, begins the Fast leading to the Feast of the
Assumption of the Holy Mother of God (Asdvadzadzin), which is next Sunday,
August 15.
The Armenian words Dzom and Pahk (fast and abstinence) are used
interchangeably, but actually Dzom means a total fast and Pahk means to
abstain from certain foods. (In Krapar the word Pahk applies for both). In
the Armenian Church Pahk means abstaining from all foods originating from
animals, including dairy products and eggs. There are about 160 days of
abstinence (Pahk) lasting one day, one week, and forty days. The week
before Asdvadzadzin is a week of abstinence. Fasting is always combined with
simple living and spiritual renewal through prayer.
When you fast, do not put on a sad face as the hypocrites do. They neglect
their appearance so that everyone will see that they are fasting. I assure
you, they have already been paid in full. When you go without food, wash
your face and comb your hair, so that others cannot know that you are
fasting. Only your Father, who is unseen, will know. And your Father, who
sees what you do in private, will reward you.
Matthew 6:16-18
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ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
August 1, 2004
IRAQ: ATTACCHI A CHIESE; TIMORI PROCURATORE CALDEO S.SEDE
DATELINE: ROMA
BODY:
(ANSA) – ROMA, 2 AGO – “Quello che e’ accaduto ieri in Iraq
e molto strano, dubito che chi ha condotto questi attacchi
possa dirsi musulmano o appartenente a qualsiasi altra
religione. Ieri sono stati compiuti atti orribili contro persone
che erano andate a pregare”. E’ quanto ha detto mons. Philip
Najim, procuratore dei Caldei presso la Santa Sede, commentando
alla Misna gli attacchi di ieri.

“Gli uomini e le donne uccisi da quelle esplosioni – ha
detto – erano entrati in un posto in cui ci si incontra con Dio.
Proibire l’esercizio della propria fede va contro qualsiasi
principio”.
“Si nota che e’ stato un attacco coordinato contro la Chiesa
cattolica perche tutti gli obiettivi erano cattolici. A Baghdad
hanno scelto la cattedrale armena e sila, hanno bombardato tre
chiese caldee e a Mosul un’altra importante chiesa caldea e
finita nel mirino dei terroristi. E’ la prima volta che
succede” prosegue.

Interrogato se l’alto numero di chiese caldee interessate
dagli attacchi di ieri fosse casuale o nascondesse un qualche
recondito messaggio, il procuratore dei Caldei in Vaticano
sottolinea: “non posso pensare ad altro se non a una
casualita’. Nel governo attuale e nel personale diplomatico non
c’e nessun caldeo, ci sono alcuni siri. Ma anche in questo caso
si tratta della fede personale di un singolo che niente ha a che
fare con la politica”.

Monsignor Najim, iracheno originario di Baghdad, e’ convinto
che quanto accaduto ieri sia solo l’inizio di una nuova sfida
all’Iraq del dopoguerra: “Tutto quello che sta accadendo nelle
ultime settimane, mostra la chiara volonta’ dei terroristi di
dividere il popolo iracheno, distinguendo tra sunniti, sciiti,
curdi, cristiani, non cristiani e cosi’ via. Voglio invitare il
mio popolo, il popolo iracheno, a restare unito e compatto
adesso piu’ che mai”. (ANSA).

Maltamedia Daily News, Malta
Aug 1 2004
Malta wins bronze medal in Women’s Promotion Cup
By MM Sports
Aug 1, 2004, 10:53 CET
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The Women’s National team made history once again by winning the
first ever medal at senior level at a Promotion Cup. The team won the
bronze medal in the 9th edition of the Promotion Cup in Andorra after
beating Armenia 69-61.
The result does not show the superiority that Malta had throughout
the match as it was only in the last session were the team was
administrating the game that the Armenians managed to make the result
more respectable.
This win means that Malta won four out of its five games played in
Andorra, and has by far got the best ever result in a Promotion Cup.
The scores in the four sessions were: 17-14 18-16 26-14 8-17. Top
Scorers for Malta were Lucienne Bezzina 25, Irene Farrugia 20,
Dorianne Galea 9.
The team will arrive back in Malta on Monday early morning.