Author: Christine Harutyunian

COE CONGRESS TO OBSERVE LOCAL ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA
Council of Europe

Oct 13 2005
On Sunday 16 October, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
of the Council of Europe will observe local elections in several
regions of Armenia: Armavir, Lory and Tavush.
The Congress delegation, led by Sean O’Brien (Ireland, SOC), will
meet election candidates, the Chairman of the Central Election
Commission, members of regional electoral commissions, the governors
of regions concerned, the Armenian delegation to the Congress, as
well as representatives of the media and NGOs, including the National
Democratic Institute for international affairs (NDI).
The delegation also includes David Lloyd-Williams (United Kingdom,
ILDG), John Biggs (United Kingdom, SOC), Christopher Newbury (United
Kingdom, EPP, rapporteur), Luca Ciriani (Italy, ILDG) and Marja van
der Tas (Netherlands, EPP).
A final press conference will take place on 17 October at 3 p.m at
Ani Plaza Hotel in Yerevan.
For further information, please contact: Office of the Special
Representative of the Secretary General to Armenia, Bojana Urumova ;
Tel: + 374 1 24 33 85 / 87, E-mail : [email protected]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ACCORDING TO ICG REPRESENTATIVE, ARMENIAN AND AZERI AUTHORITIES SHOULD PREPARE THEIR SOCIETIES FOR PEACE
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 11 2005
International Crisis Group representative for the South Caucasus Sabina
Freizer believes Armenian and Azeri leadership should immediately begin
preparing both countries’ societies for peace and mutual compromises
necessary for the achievement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict long –
term settlement.
Nagorno Karabakh conflict should not be considered “frozen” – people
are dying of fire – exchanges along the contact line and mines, it
goes on influencing upon the civil population’s life. Freizer stated
it when speaking at the Rose – Roth seminar in Yerevan organized by
RA Parliament and NATO Parliamentary Assembly. According to Freizer,
at present the likelihood of the war’s resumption is higher than
ever. She said lack of contacts between the societies had resulted in
the fact that the two countries’ young generation was more aggressive
than the Soviet one. It concerns mostly Azerbaijan. Freizer blamed
Azeri leadership forbidding Azeris to contact with Armenians. She
noted Azeri identified themselves with Turks and believed their duty
was to liberate the lands from Armenians. In her words, more than
50% of Azeri population does not see the alternative to the military
settlement of the conflict.
According to the International Crisis Group representative, despite
Nagorno Karabakh’s economic development, it depends on Armenia, which
forms Karabakh budget’s 60%, while50% of the NK servicemen are from
Armenia. The lands have been privatized by Armenian population. In
Freizer’s words, it may compound a problem while signing peace
agreement.
In her opinion, the parties adhere to the peaceful settlement. They
realize all the problems cannot be settled now. In particular, the
issue referring to determination of the NK final status should be
put off. First of all the troops should be withdrawn from the regions
surrounding the NKR and refugees return their homes.
Freizer thinks Nagorno Karabakh should get corresponding international
security guarantees then. She stated the UN, OSCE and EU would put a
stop to any kind of violations, especially those from the Azeri party.
As for a referendum, according to Freizer, there are still a lot
of problems to be discussed and clarified. ICG suggests that the
referendum should be conducted with the participation of Armenians
and Azeris.
Speaking about the independence referendum conducted in Nagorno
Karabakh in 1991, Freizer noted Azerbaijan did not recognize its
outcomes. ICG suggests that a new referendum should be conducted for
its outcomes to be recognized by Azerbaijan and be fixed in a peace
agreement. It is difficult to speak about the referendum’s technical
details now. No one knows what is going to take place in 10 – 15 years,
who will finance the referendum and monitor it. The issue referring to
the referendum is still painful. A few months ago Azeri FM rejected
the idea. And yet, according to the Azeri Constitution, a referendum
cannot be conducted in one part of the Republic, it must be held on
the whole territory of the country, noted Freizer.
There are other questions as well: who should vote and where? The
Armenian party believes voting should be conducted in the NK only,
and the question should be “Do you strive for independence?”.
According to Azeris, two referendums should be conducted in the NK:
the one among Armenians and another among Azeris. Who will vote – those
who used to live in the NK before the conflict’s beginning or their
posterity? In Freizer’s words, all the options should be discussed.
In this connection RA MFA representative Varuzhan Nersisyan noted
the issue referring to the status of Nagorno Karabakh could not be
postponed. The status is clear. He stated only its fixation’s form
could be put off.
He added the issue relevant to troops pullout from the territories
surrounding the NK should be discussed very carefully. In the
diplomat’s opinion, the problem is that Azerbaijan can change its
intentions, while Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh will not have the
lever of influence.
Varuzhan Nersisyan said it was obvious for Armenia that only one
referendum was to be conducted in NKR, as it concerned Nagorno Karabakh
people’s security. The Armenian diplomat stressed only the people
who lived in NKR or had lived there before the conflict should make
their choice.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH COURT STOPS CONFERENCE ON ARMENIAN KILLINGS
Reuters
09/22/05 19:23 ET
ISTANBUL, Sept 22 (Reuters) – A Turkish court has ordered the
postponement a university conference called to debate the deaths
of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey during World War One, the state news
agency Anatolia said on Thursday.
The conference, already postponed in May after a minister accused its
organisers of treason, was meant to give a platform to intellectuals
who question Turkey’s official view of the Armenian killings. It was
due to start on Friday.
Turkey denies claims the death of 1.5 million Christian Armenians
in the dying days of the Ottoman empire was genocide, but is under
pressure to change its stance as part of its bid to become the first
Muslim country to join the European Union.
The court unanimously awarded the temporary injunction after various
lawyers and organisations filed complaints demanding the cancellation
of the conference, which was to be held at Istanbul’s Bosphorus and
Sabanci universities.
“Istanbul 4th Administrative Court suspended ‘Ottoman Armenians
during the collapse of the Empire’ conference until the defendant
Bosphorus and Sabanci universities give their defence,” Anatolia news
agency said.
The court asked the universities to provide more information on the
content of the conference and on its speakers but gave no further
details. Turkish law prohibits any comments which are considered
insulting to Turkish national identity.
Turkey’s pro-European government, breaking with past administrations,
has said it is willing to discuss historical differences with
Armenians. But official policy still rejects claims that 1.5 million
Armenians were slaughtered.
It accepts that hundreds of thousands of Armenians were killed by
Ottoman Turks, but says even more Turks died in a partisan conflict
that erupted as the Ottoman empire collapsed.
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said he regretted the court’s decision.
“It is not possible that I approve such a decision during a time of
steps for a more advanced democracy, and a more free Turkey.”
Turkey is due to start European Union accession talks in October,
and has taken wide-ranging political reforms to bolster freedom of
expression and improve human rights.
The EU has said Turkey should improve ties with neighbouring Armenia,
and some European leaders have said Turkey must acknowledge the deaths
of Armenians as genocide.
The conference was postponed in May after Justice Minister Cemil
Cicek accused the organisers and participants of treason.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SECURITY PACT CHIEF PRAISES RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN MILITARY TEAMWORK AFTER JOINT DRILL
RTR Russia TV, Moscow
14 Sep 05
[Presenter] A joint Russian-Armenian military exercise to rehearse
defensive combat skills as part of a combined force has passed in
Armenia [it reportedly began on 10 September and ended on the 13th].
The country’s president, Robert Kocharyan, and the secretary-general
of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Nikolay Bordyuzha,
watched the exercise. This is how Bordyuzha commented on the results
of the drill.
[Bordyuzha] I reckon that this exercise went off successfully. What
matters is not the effect of explosions and gunfire that we see in
the field, but the rehearsal of coordination between units of the
Armenian and Russian armed forces.
[Presenter] The 10th joint drill involved over 1,000 service personnel
and about 300 items of military materiel, including four fighter jets
and six helicopters.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Lebanon firm ends Iraq work to save worker
United Press International
Sept 13 2005
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Sept. 13 — A Lebanese company announced Tuesday that
it ceased operations in Iraq in response to demands by the kidnappers
of one of its employees.
Geo-Trading, which the kidnappers accused of exporting spirits and
alcoholic beverages to Iraq, said in a statement that it was operating
in Iraq according to local laws and never violated any legislation.
The company’s employee, Garabet Shirikjian, a Lebanese-Armenian,
was kidnapped in Baghdad three weeks ago. He appeared on a videotaped
broadcast on television two days ago begging his company to save his
life by stopping operations in Iraq.
The statement said the company closed all its offices in Iraq,
dismissed its employees and decided not to operate in Iraq in order
to save its employee.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Vatican Information Service
12 Sept 2005
VATICAN CITY, SEP 12, 2005 (VIS) – The Holy Father elevated the apostolic
exarchate for faithful of the Armenian rite resident in the U.S.A. and
Canada, to the rank of eparchy with the name “Our Lady of Nareg in New York
for Armenian Catholics,” and with the same territorial configuration as the
current exarchate. He appointed Bishop Manuel Batakian, apostolic exarch for
faithful of the Armenian rite resident in the U.S.A. and Canada, as first
bishop of the new eparchy.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
September 8, 2005
“AVAKS” SENIORS GROUP READY TO BEGIN NEW YEAR OF ACTIVITIES AT ST.
VARTAN CATHEDRAL
The “Avaks” senior citizens group at New York City’s St. Vartan
Cathedral will begin a new season of activities at noon on Thursday,
September 15, 2005.
Held every Thursday at noon, the group meets first in St. Vartan
Cathedral for Bible study then heads down to the Cathedral complex’s
Guild Hall for a delicious lunch, which is topped off with an
interesting program, all organized by Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of St.
Vartan Cathedral.
Before their break for the summer, the Avaks had a dynamic year
jam-packed with activities, including: lectures, films, trips, parties,
and picnics. Guest lecturers last year included: visiting Archbishop
from Etchmiadzin Nerses Bozabalian; the then newly-ordained priest Fr.
Bedros Kadehjian; a psychologist from the Republic of Armenia, Dr.
Khachadour Gasparyan; and journalist Florence Avakian. The weekly
gatherings also sometimes featured musical presentations by guests such
as St. Vartan Cathedral choirmaster Maestro Khoren Mekanejian, singer
Maro Partamian, and pianists Anna Mintanciyan and Jeannette Chirikjian.
Occasionally the seniors were taught light exercise techniques by
fitness instructor Arpine Dod. The group also saw many interesting
films and videos last year, such as Henri Verneuil’s memorable “Mayrig”
and the award-winning “Aram Khatchaturian.”
But the seniors didn’t just stay at the Cathedral. Last season saw them
taking several interesting trips. They had a three-day retreat at the
Diocesan Ararat Center in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York in
both the fall and the spring. They also went to Lancaster, PA, for the
much-anticipated musical show “Noah.” An all-day trip to Philadelphia
included a tour of the historic sites and the Genocide Memorial there,
as well as a cruise down the Delaware River. This August Fr. Chevian
led many of the Avaks and other seniors from throughout the Diocese on a
special week-long trip to Jerusalem, including a visit to the Armenian
Patriarchate, that was brought about by the desire of the seniors.
In December, the group celebrated its yearly rollicking Christmas party
with a delicious chicken and pilaf lunch, after which the Christmas
revelers participated in the traditional grab bag of gift-giving.
Christmas carols were enthusiastically sung by the group led by singer
Maro Partamian, who herself offered several seasonal songs.
The spring season ended with a picnic held on the Diocesan plaza under a
cloudless sunny sky, replete with a delicious chicken and luleh kebab
lunch. The John Vartan Ensemble played catchy musical selections as the
attendees took to the dance floor with their skillful moves.
Several Avak attendees voiced their enthusiasm at the conclusion of the
year’s activities. Maestro Khoren Mekanejian said he looks forward to
the weekly Avak luncheon and program. “The feeling of togetherness and
warmth by all who attend is inspiring,” he said.
Albert Der Tatevasian who attends the Avak gatherings with his wife,
Alice, and sister-in-law puts in on the monthly calendar. “Thursday is
Avaks day, and we make no other plans for that day,” he declared.
Angel Vantzian, at first, attended with reluctance, and only with the
urging of her sister, Elmas. “After several get-togethers, I found
myself looking forward to the weekly gatherings with acquaintances who
eventually became good friends,” she said. “The lunches are wonderful,
and the lectures and programs interesting.”
And long-time member Mary Bahadurian summed up the weekly Avaks
gatherings with just one word: “wonderful.” She explained that “the
main reason for the group’s success is Fr. Mardiros’ enthusiasm and
dedication.” She listed his special traits. “He’s a very good
organizer, and has a sense of humor which the group appreciates. It’s
plain that everyone enjoys the special camaraderie.”
For more information on the Avak gatherings, call Fr. Mardiros Chevian
at (212) 686-0710.
— 9/8/05
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): The St. Vartan Cathedral “Avaks” seniors group
gather at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): The St. Vartan Cathedral “Avaks” seniors group get
ready for a cruise on the Delaware River during their 2004/05 season.
Their 2005/06 season of activities begins September 15, 2005.
# # #
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURK ‘GENOCIDE’ AUTHOR FACES JAIL
BBC
Thursday, 1 September 2005, 18:03 GMT 19:03 UK
Orhan Pamuk is accused of publicly denigrating Turkish identity One
of Turkey’s best-known novelists faces three years in jail for making
controversial comments on his country’s killing of Armenians and Kurds.
Orhan Pamuk has been charged with insulting Turkey’s national
character. He was quoted in a Swiss paper as saying that only he had
dared to say that Turkey killed 30,000 Kurds and a million Armenians.
Turkey accepts thousands of Armenians were killed by Ottoman Empire
forces in 1915-17, but strongly denies genocide.
The “30,000 Kurds” referred to by Mr Pamuk are those who have died
since 1984 in the conflict between Turkey and Kurdish separatists.
‘Public denigration’
Turkey – which is keen to improve its human rights record ahead of
European Union entry talks next month – is sensitive over both the
Armenian and Kurdish issues.
Mr Pamuk’s comments angered Turkish nationalists and politicians when
they were quoted in the magazine of Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger
in February.
A prosecutor in Istanbul has now indicted Mr Pamuk on charges the
remarks amounted to a “public denigration” of Turkish identity.
This is a crime under the newly country’s revised penal code,
criticised by freedom of speech advocates.
The author, whose works including My Name is Red and Snow have
been translated into 20 languages, is expected to stand trial on 16
December, his publisher Tugrul Pasaoglu said. “We have to wait for the
court. Then he [Mr Pamuk] will make his speech in the court,” he said.
The EU has said Turkey must meet European standards on freedom of
expression. The row over the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman
Turks between 1915 and 1917 has festered for decades.
Armenia alleges that the Ottoman Empire systematically arranged the
deportation and killing of 1.5 million Armenians.
Fifteen countries, including France, Switzerland, Russia and Argentina,
have classified the killings as genocide.
Turkey says up to 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died
during civil strife in eastern Turkey during World War I, but rejects
the term “genocide”.

UN ETE DANS LA CROIX: LES ARMENIENS DE TURQUIE (6/7).
La Croix , France
29 août 2005
Dossier. “L’Etat doit etre equidistant de toutes les religions”.
Interview. Sa Beatitude Mesrob II. Patriarche d’Istamboul de l’Eglise
armenienne apostolique. Pour le patriarche de l’Eglise armenienne
apostolique, la laïcite en Turquie ne garantit pas toujours l’egalite
des religions devant l’Etat. L’adhesion a l’Union europeenne pourrait,
pense-t-il, ameliorer la situation.
par PLOQUIN Jean-Christophe
Vous etes a la tete de l’Eglise armenienne apostolique en Turquie
depuis 1998. Le contexte est-il aujourd’hui favorable a cette minorite
dans le pays?
S. B. Mesrob II: Selon des statistiques publiees au debut de l’annee
par le Bureau de l’information de l’Etat, il y a aujourd’hui en
Turquie de 68 000 a 70 000 Armeniens (1) ayant la nationalite turque,
plus 30 000 Armeniens d’Armenie, qui sont en quelque sorte des
travailleurs immigres. Pour pouvoir vivre et nous developper en tant
que minorite, nous avons besoin de trois choses: de pretres, d’ecoles
et de fondations pour susciter de l’argent. Dans ces trois domaines,
la situation n’est pas satisfaisante. Nous payons les memes impôts
que les Turcs musulmans. Mais eux disposent de mosquees, d’imams,
d’instituts de theologie payes par le gouvernement et d’une direction
des affaires religieuses qui relève du premier ministre. Nous, nous
devons financer nous-memes le patriarcat, les eglises, les salaires
des pretres, et nous n’avons pas de faculte de theologie armenienne.
Où est donc la vraie laïcite?
– Vous sentez-vous turc?
– Je suis ne a Istamboul. Je suis un fils de cette Republique. Je
veux pouvoir dire: “C’est mon pays.” Les Armeniens de Turquie ne
sont pas une extension de la Republique d’Armenie. Ils ont plus de
points communs avec leurs concitoyens turcs. Tous les enfants de
notre communaute doivent pouvoir jongler avec trois balles, comme
au cirque: la nationalite turque, l’ethnie armenienne, la religion
chretienne. Idem pour les Grecs ou pour les juifs de Turquie. Mais
il faut pour cela une vraie laïcite dans le pays. L’Etat doit etre
equidistant de toutes les religions. Dans les ecoles turques, on
n’enseigne pas le pluralisme, la diversite. On ne met pas en evidence
l’heritage de la Turquie comme creuset de tellement de traditions et
de civilisations. Cela dit, actuellement, une nouvelle loi sur les
fondations est en cours de discussion, qui devrait mettre toutes les
religions sur un pied d’egalite pour le financement de leurs oeuvres
et de leurs biens religieux.
– Les conversions sont-elles possibles en Turquie?
– Chaque annee, nous baptisons entre 80 et 120 adultes revenant a la
religion armenienne. Lorsqu’une personne vient nous en faire la demande
et qu’il y a au moins deux temoins qui affirment par ecrit qu’elle
est d’origine armenienne, nous lui faisons suivre le catechumenat et
elle est baptisee. Selon certains professeurs d’histoire, environ
200 000 Armeniens, surtout des filles, ont ete convertis a l’islam
en 1915. Il y a donc sans doute au moins 1,5 million de Turcs qui
ont une ascendance armenienne.
– L’Etat vous laisse-t-il faire?
– L’Etat est laïque! Ce n’est donc pas son problème! Mais nous sommes
regulièrement soumis a des campagnes de presse qui accusent les
chretiens de se livrer a des activites missionnaires. Dans l’islam,
quand le père est musulman, ses enfants sont musulmans. C’est une
difficulte. Les campagnes de presse font etat de 10 000 ou 20
000 conversions au christianisme, surtout de la part d’Eglises
protestantes. C’est très exagere. On peut parler de quelques
centaines. Et il faut bien dire que l’activite missionnaire musulmane
est beaucoup plus intense: la television diffuse des lectures du
coran et les sermons des imams.
– Les chretiens ne sont sans doute plus que 200 000 en Turquie…
Feraient-ils peur a 65 millions de musulmans?
– Il y a des gens qui essaient de montrer les chretiens comme un danger
pour le pays. C’est une phobie qui remonte aux dernières annees de
l’Empire ottoman. Ils percoivent les minorites comme de possibles
saboteurs de la nation. Pour le Turc moyen, l’Empire s’est effondre
parce que les minorites ont collabore avec l’etranger.
Certains essaient aujourd’hui d’actualiser cette perception pour
apeurer les masses.
– Parvenez-vous a aller au contact des quelques centaines ou milliers
d’Armeniens qui vivent hors d’Istamboul?
– Quand je sors d’Istamboul, nous sommes entoures de huit a dix
policiers, pour notre securite! Dans ces conditions, il est difficile
d’etre pasteur. Fin juin, je suis alle a Kayseri, l’ancienne Cesaree
de Cappadoce, pour celebrer une messe en memoire de saint Gregoire
l’Illuminateur: premier eveque d’Armenie, il a vecu, etudie et
enseigne dans cette ville, et c’est lui qui, en 301, a converti le
roi d’Armenie au christianisme. Cesaree est une cite sainte pour les
Armeniens du monde entier. Il y a encore une eglise du XIe siècle,
mais il ne reste plus que cinq Armeniens. Or, le lendemain, la presse
a ete detestable sur le thème: la Turquie est musulmane, le patriarche
cherche a nous convertir. En fait, on veut nous decourager d’effectuer
des pèlerinages dans les lieux d’origine du christianisme.
Quoi qu’il en soit, je vais trois fois par an en Anatolie, a la
rencontre de nos communautes. Il y a de nombreuses villes où vivent
des Armeniens mais où nous n’avons plus d’eglise, comme a Malatya
ou a Elazig. Ou alors ces eglises existent encore, mais nous ne
les possedons plus et nous n’avons pas le droit d’en construire de
nouvelles. Or, ces petites communautes aussi ont besoin de nourriture
spirituelle et je ne vois pas pourquoi elles devraient se confiner
pour le culte dans un appartement.
– À Istamboul, les Armeniens restent-ils dans le giron de l’Eglise?
– La secularisation est forte! J’aimerais que tout le monde temoigne
de sa foi. Mais je suis trop idealiste. La communaute armenienne
d’Istamboul est connue pour etre très pieuse. Il y a de nombreuses
chorales d’eglises, l’Avent est toujours un temps fort. Mais un
enfant sur trois seulement va a l’ecole armenienne. C’est trop peu
pour pouvoir entretenir la langue et la religion. Un jeune sur deux
se marie avec un non-Armenien. Irremediablement, les chiffres de la
communaute vont donc baisser. Il s’agit pour nous de reevangeliser
la communaute armenienne.
– Pensez-vous qu’un jour le nombre d’Armeniens augmentera de nouveau
en Turquie?
– Peut-etre, si la Turquie entre dans l’Union europeenne. Quand le
pays aura rejoint le niveau de vie moyen de l’Europe, qu’il aura
adopte ses valeurs, quand il y aura plus d’air pour les minorites.
Deja, l’exode est beaucoup moins important que dans les annees 1960
et 1970. À l’epoque, il y avait entre 5 000 et 10 000 departs par an.
Aujourd’hui, on parle de centaines. Un jour peut-etre, les Armeniens
de Turquie n’auront plus aucune raison d’aller voir ailleurs.
(a Istamboul)
DEMAIN:
Des historiens turcs
refusent l’Histoire officielle
RECUEILLI PAR JEAN-CHRISTOPHE PLOQUIN
(1) Dont 3 000 Armeniens catholiques et 400 Armeniens protestants
Neuf Armeniens sur dix sont “apostoliques”
90% des Armeniens dans le monde relèvent de l’Eglise armenienne
apostolique, dite aussi “gregorienne” (en reference a saint
Gregoire l’Illuminateur, qui la suscita). Celle-ci est divisee
en quatre structures autonomes: les catholicossats d’Etchmiadzine
(Armenie) et de Sis (etabli a Antelias, au Liban), les patriarcats
de Constantinople (Istamboul) et de Jerusalem. Leur lien organique
tient dans la primaute du siège d’Etchmiadzine, actuellement occupe
par le patriarche Karekine II.
L’Eglise armenienne-catholique (de rite oriental, unie a Rome)
compterait 300 000 fidèles – quelques milliers en Turquie – dont le
patriarche Jean-Pierre XIX reside a Beyrouth.
Plusieurs dizaines de milliers d’Armeniens protestants sont reunis
dans l’Union des Eglises evangeliques armeniennes.
Le patriarche armenien (gregorien) Mesrob II de Constantinople a sous
sa juridiction 35 eglises en activite dans la metropole du Bosphore.
En Anatolie, il n’y a au mieux que six eglises suffisamment solides
pour pouvoir y celebrer la liturgie. Celle de Vakiflar, près
d’Iskenderoun, est la seule a avoir pu etre renovee. Le clerge doit
avoir la nationalite turque. Pour la Turquie, il comprend aujourd’hui
le patriarche, deux eveques, quatre pretres celibataires et 18 maries,
24 diacres et 36 chantres.
–Boundary_(ID_p2k3JhXFJlJVgzBWp0KTZg)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenpress
MIKHAIL SAAKASHVILI ARRIVES FOR UNOFFICIAL VISIT TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS: The president and defense minister of the
neighboring Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili and Irakly Okruahsvili, arrived in
Armenia on Sunday for a two-day unofficial visit to discuss with their
counterparts at Armenian president Robert Kocharian’s summer house near Lake
Sevan the situation in the South Caucasus and the state of things in
Georgia’s southern region of Javakheti with a predominant Armenian
population.
President Saakashvili arrived here by plane while Okruahsvili chose to
travel by car. This is the second such meeting of Kocharian and Saakashvili.
The first was held last April 1 at Georgia’s mountainous resort Gudauri
after which Georgia media quoted Saakashvili as saying that “We do not need
any ceremonies to meet one another. We can always visit each other without
prior preparations and hold talks and these are normal relations between
good neighbors.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress