Author: Emil Lazarian

Armenia denies connection to man arrested for attempt at Pres Bush
By Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
July 21, 2005 Thursday 8:54 AM Eastern Time

YEREVAN, July 21 — Vladimir Arutyunian, an ethnic Armenian arrested
in Georgia in connection with an attempt at U.S. President George
W. Bush’s life is a Georgian national and is not related to the
Republic of Armenia in any way, a spokesman for Armenian law
enforcement agencies told Itar-Tass on conditions of anonymity.

Arutyunian, 27, is suspected of throwing a combat grenade at a podium
from which President Bush addressed a rally of democracy fans in
Tbilisi May 10, 2005.

“Investigation of that incident at the meeting in Tbilisi is Georgia’s
internal matter and Armenian law and order agencies are not involved
in it in any way,” the spokesman said.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]

KNOLLENBERG SPEARHEADS LEGISLATION TO BAR U.S. FUNDING FOR RAILROAD
LINKS THAT BYPASS ARMENIA

Washington, DC – Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chair
Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), along with Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ) and Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA), last night introduced
a bill in the House of Representatives that would bar U.S. assistance
for a proposed Kars-Akhalkalaki rail link which isolates Armenia from
East-West commercial corridors.

H. R. 3361, also known as the South Caucasus Integration and Open
Railroads Act of 2005, would prohibit U.S. assistance for this
ill-proposed route which would link Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan
but not traverse Armenia. According to preliminary estimates,
constructing a new rail link would cost at least $400-800 million
and would be financed by the participating countries.

“Excluding Armenia from economic and commercial opportunities
undermines U.S. long-term interests in the region,” said Congressman
Knollenberg. “The U.S. should not assist in promoting or developing
the proposed Kars-Akhalkalaki railroad, which bypasses Armenia,
ignores the existing Kars-Gyumri route, thwarts regional cooperation
and serves to destabilize the South Caucasus.”

Armenian government officials have repeatedly said that a new railway
is unnecessary given that a railroad linking Armenia, Georgia and
Turkey already exists. The existing line is in working condition and
could be operational within weeks.

“We commend the leadership of Congressman Knollenberg and his
colleagues for introducing this measure,” said Assembly Board of
Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian. “The proposed railway is an
extension of Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s efforts to hinder Armenia’s
regional integration. The Assembly will block any attempt to
isolate Armenia and fight to ensure that it is included in regional
transportation routes which will benefit the entire South Caucasus
and promote security, trade and economic development.”

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

NR#2005-079

Editor’s Note: Attached is Congressman Knollenberg’s statement on the
“South Caucasus Open Rail Link Act” as delivered before the House
of Representatives.

SPEECH OF HON. JOE KNOLLENBERG OF MICHIGAN IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2005 *
Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, United States foreign policy toward the
South Caucasus nations is one of fostering regional stability and
enhanced cooperation. I rise today to bring attention to the great
injustice in relations in this region. * I speak today to stress
my opposition and to move forward with legislation contesting the
proposed railroad connecting Tbilisi, Georgia and Kars, Turkey. The
proposed railroad would systematically bypass Armenia, and push
them further into isolation. * As we all know, Turkey and Armenia
have their differences. Although it is counterproductive to list
those differences, instead I want to highlight the fact that it
goes against United States policy to be in a position that further
advances the turmoil in this region, The proposed legislation would bar
U.S. support and funding for a rail link connecting Georgia and Turkey,
but which directly averts Armenia. * Eight years ago, the former
Turkish president and the former Georgian president meant to discuss
the railroad that would “open a third frontier crossing between the
two countries,” providing further commerce and economic opportunity
for the South Caucasus region. Both countries would benefit immensely
from this railroad. * While I will always support commerce-based
proposals that spawn economic development around the world, this
proposal initiates commerce at the cost of another country’s economic
development. This is unacceptable. * This railroad would cost
between $400-$800 million to construct, while a perfectly workable
and capable rail link already exists. It is evident to all that this
new rail system is being proposed for the specific reason of diverting
commerce around Armenia. * The construction of the proposed railroad
would be equivalent to the people of Ohio building a new bridge to
Canada just to avoid traveling through Michigan. The United States
government would never condone this action, and we should not be in the
practice of condoning the actions set forth by the Turkish government.
* The existing rail would be available for use within weeks of an
agreement between Armenia, Turkey, and Georgia. Furthermore, the
Armenian people are willing to forego using the rail until normal
relations with Turkey are established. Mr. Speaker, although normal
relations may still take some time, there is no reason to further
shut Armenia out of the equation. * Moreover, the building of this
railroad also highlights the ongoing struggle between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Known by all, Azerbaijan’s main goal is to strangle Armenia
into submission of Nagorno-Karabakh. This railroad does just that.
* The United States and other countries around the world, including
Turkey, need to allow these two countries to agree upon a solution
regarding Nagorno-Karabakh. It is necessary that third parties
remain neutral. The proposed railroad not only stunts the diplomatic
progress between Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan, it unnecessarily
blocks Armenia’s economic and political progress. * I encourage
my colleagues to look at the facts of this situation. The existing
rail link would be available essentially as soon as possible and it
would take a minimal amount of funding in order to get it usable
again. Whereas, a new rail link would take months if not years to
build, and would cost an estimated $400-$800 million. There should
be no question as to which plan the United States supports.

###

–Boundary_(ID_VNXVetnusRNR96OSOvUEFg)–

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB AWARDS FOR JOURNALISTS AND MASS MEDIA

Azg/arm
21 July 05

The arrangements dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Yerevan Press
Club completed yesterday by the ceremony of giving awards to a number
of journalists and mass media at the Chamber Music Hall after Komitas.

Hayk Gevorgian, reporter of Haykakan Zhamanak, was given a prize in
the nomination “For Contributing to Transparency of Economy.” Yerkir
Media TV won the award for “Best Political Analytical” program.
Tatoul Hakobian, reporter of Azg daily, won the prize for “Highlighting
Regional Issues.” While Hayrenik TV was given the award for “Programs
for Children.”

Radiolur program of RA Public TV was considered the best
informational-analytical program in the nomination “For Securing
Operative and Multilateral Information.” Shoghakat TV received the
prize “For Aesthetics.”

Other three journalists were awarded the prizes of the Yerevan Press
Club. Tigran Paskevichian was awarded the Valeri Aydinian prize for
a series of articles published in 168 Zham weekly. Artak Aleqsanian,
reporter of RA Public TV, received the Tigran Naghdalian prize.

The UN Office in Armenia awarded the journalists Arpine Harutyunian,
Sara Petrosian and Susana Shahnazarian prizes for the winning the
Millennium Development Goals contest. UNDP and the Yerevan Press
Club gave prizes to Hasmik Budaghian, reporter of Aravot weekly,
and Vahan Ishkhanian, journalist of Armenianow.com.

The jury of the Yerevan Press Club Annual Award included Astghik
Gevorgian, chairwoman of RA Union of Journalists, Ashot Melikian,
chairman of the Freedom of Speech Committee, Nune Sargsian,
executive director of Internews NGO, Levon Barseghian, chairman of
the Gyumri’s Asparez Club, Avet Demourian, chairman of Team NGO and
Edik Baghdasarian, chairman of Investigative Journalists NGO.

REFERENDUM IN KARABAKH WITHIN ONE YEAR

On Constitution, not the Status
By Tatoul Hakobian

Azg/arm
20 July 05

A constitutional referendum will be held in Nagorno Karabakh within
one year. As it is known, Karabakh, like Great Britain and Israel,
has no constitution but instead constitutional or main laws. Today,
the authorities in Karabakh think that the republic needs to have a
constitution. The Artsakhi Armenians w ill have to vote for or against
the constitution which clearly states that Nagorno Karabakh Republic
is an independent and sovereign state.

The constitutional referendum, perhaps, is the main factor why the
authorities in Karabakh turned down the offer to decide the status
of the region by a referendum. Political analyst Davit Babayan from
Stepanakert told daily Azg that it’s not expedient to hold a referendum
to decide the status of Karabakh. “A constitutional referendum
will take place in Karabakh soon. If any international organization
backs Azerbaijan’s position on referendum then the coming vote for
constitution will reveal the will of Artsakhi people”, he said.

Numerous publications in the press have been often indicating
lately that a referendum in 10-15 years may seal the fate of Nagorno
Karabakh. Official Yerevan seems to be in favor of referendum. Foreign
minister Oskanian, particularly, hinted that a referendum to decide
the status of Karabakh is an acceptable alternative for Yerevan.

Official Baku and the Nagorno Karabakh are not really enthusiastic
over the idea of a referendum. Information leakage from Baku lately
disclosed that Azerbaijan looks to “5+1+1” alternative, i.e. Armenian
forces will hand over 5 starting territories and afterwards Qelbajar
and Lachin.

Davit Babayan thinks that the territorial issue and the status are the
key elements of conflict regulation. “To understand the concessions in
the issues of territory and status, one should understand the essence
of the Karabakh conflict. The essence is neither the territories nor
the status but the issue of existence. Therefore, Nagorno Karabakh
has to have territories and status that will guarantee its security
and will allow it to develop. There are territories that cannot be
disputed. They are Lachin and Qelbajar”, he said.

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:

THE PARTICIPATION OF THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA IN THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF WSCF AND IN THE WOMEN’S PROGRAM

The annual general assembly of the WSCF in the Middle East took place
in Cairo on July 1-3. Representatives from Lebanon, Syria, Jordan,
Sudan and Egypt participated in the conference.

Carla Khijoian, a member of the Executive Committee of WSCF and
the Student Association of the Armenian Church participated in the
conference on behalf of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.

The attendants discussed the activities of WSCF during the past year,
and the status of the organization’s Middle East office. They also
discussed and planned the activities of the coming year.

The assembly also accepted the membership of a newly formed Christian
youth movement in Iraq.

A conference entitled “Women in the East and honor crimes” followed
the assembly on July 4-7. Several lecturers and professionals in
various fields talked about the concept of honor in the Middle East
and its immediate relation to women.

The participants stressed the importance of educating the women of
the East, so they would get to know their rights and defend them.

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
Ecumenical activities 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.

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:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I VISITS THE AZOUNIEH ARMENIAN NATIONAL SANATORIUM
AND THE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL OF DURZIS IN SHOUF

His Holiness Aram I visited the Azounieh Armenian National Sanatorium
in Shouf on July 16 with members of the Cilician Brotherhood. His
Holiness was received by the Board of Trustees of the sanatorium and
its staff.

The visit was an opportunity for His Holiness to get closely acquainted
with the activities of the Sanatorium and to review some plans that
will be implemented in the future for the purpose of reforming the
institution.

The members of the Board of Trustees of the Azounieh Sanatorium and
particularly its chairman Zohrab Torigian gave detailed explanations
to His Holiness on these matters. His Holiness also visited the
patients and the elderly and gave them his blessings, wishing for
their well-being and recovery.

The Board of Trustees of the sanatorium have planned a number of
construction projects both inside and around the sanatorium. The
institute currently hosts around 100 patients.

The chairman of the Board of Trustees of the community hospital
of Shouf’s Durzis, Dr. Abbas Halabi visited the Azounieh National
Sanatorium on the occasion of His Holiness’ visit to the region and
met with the Catholicos and the Board of Trustees of the sanatorium.

His Holiness Aram I then visited the community hospital of the Durzis,
where he was met with the religious and secular governors of the
hospital, the members of its medical committee and staff. His Holiness
Aram I was informed about the humanitarian mission of the hospital,
the services it offers and the modern medical equipment it possesses.

The director of the hospital welcomed His Holiness, a visitor
he regarded as “a champion of Christian-Muslim dialogue, who has
come to us to become a tangible example of inter-confessional and
inter-religious coexistence and cooperation.”

His Holiness commended the work carried out by the hospital under
the supervision of Dr. Halabi. He highlighted the imperative of
transforming inter-confessional coexistence into cooperation with
everyone’s positive participation.

His Holiness considered the visit an opportunity for cooperation with
the hospital and the Azounieh National Sanatorium, “two dedicated
institutions serving the same cause and bound together by good
neighborly relations for many years.”

His Holiness toured around all the departments of the hospital and
the building that shelters the elderly with the Board of Trustees
and the medical committee.

The visit became an opportunity for the two sides to familiarize one
another with the activities of the two institutions and to discuss
possibilities for future cooperation.

##

View pictures here:

*****

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
history and the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer
to the web page of the Catholicosate, The
Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is
located in Antelias, Lebanon.

OPPOSITION “REPUBLIC” PARTY TO MAKE ASSESSMENT OF POLITICAL PROCESS
RELATED TO CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS

YEREVAN, JULY 18., ARMINFO. We hope that our colleagues from the
Justice bloc will reconsider their approaches ot the constitutional
reforms otherwise our party will make its assessment of the process,
says the press sectretary of the opposition Republic party Suren
Surenyants.

He says that Republic is strongly against the opposition’s returning
to the parliament for discussing the constitutional reforms. Any
discussions of the document give the authorities a chance to feign
civil accord in the country. The key obstacle to Armenia’s development
is not in the constitution but in the ruling criminal regime. So
reforms are possible only under legal aurthorities.

Do Not Look for Happiness Overseas

ArmenPress
July 15 2005

YEREVAN, JULY 15, ARMENPRESS: More and more Armenians have begun to
think about marrying a foreigner, especially an expatriate, who could
take them out of the country that is still facing heavy economic
problems but they seem to be unaware or ignorant of the negative
demographic impact their decision may have.

No one knows just how many Armenians left their country since 1991
when it broke away from the former Soviet Union, but even the most
conservative estimates put the total at around one million. The exodus
has made Armenia one of the fastest-disappearing nations in the world,
dubbed by some experts as “depopulation” calling into question whether
Armenia is a country with a future. In a country with no significant
natural resources, a collapsed Soviet industrial infrastructure and
an economy just now showing signs of recovery, many Armenians had
little choice but to leave. About 80 percent headed to Russia and
other parts of the former Soviet Union; the rest joined the earlier
Diaspora in the United States or Western Europe.

The wave of departures, which hit a high of about 200,000 a year in the
mid-1990s, has stabilized in recent years, but the cumulative effect
remains. Far more Armenians now live outside their homeland than
in it. The society that stayed has far fewer working-age men, fewer
marriages, fewer births. Women outnumber men 56 percent to 44 percent.

But the trend of mixed marriages is set to increase as the local
society is becoming gradually more open to the rest of the world.

Even under the Soviets many Armenian nationals wanted to marry a
Diaspora Armenian or foreigners from Western countries. An official
from justice ministry’s civilian registry introduced us to an Armenian
woman and a German male who arrived in Yerevan to register their
marriage here. Both appeared to be happy to answer all our questions,
but refused to disclose their names. The woman, who has been living
with her family in Germany for seven years already, said she and
her fiance, let us call him Hans, came to Armenia to register their
marriage here because the procedure is very complicated in Germany. But
when we asked her about Armenians in Germany, she said many of them,
especially men, get involved in various fraudulent deals in an effort
to receive permission for permanent residence or citizenship. When
their tricks are revealed, they create a negative perception of
Armenians by Germans. She said many Armenian men, who are living
in Germany illegally, befriend local women, declare their love for
them – even women twice their age – and often marry them just to get
residence permission or citizenship. She even recalled several cases
when Christian Armenians married German Turks, something difficult
to imagine in other places, explaining that Turks are treated well in
Germany, making the Armenians’ chance of getting residence permission
higher.

“At any rate I cannot understand how a Christian Armenian and a Muslim
Turk can make a union,” she said, adding also that religious belonging
is appreciated stronger and higher by Armenians living outside their
homeland. She said her decision to marry a German was based on true
love. Hans confirmed this saying they have known one another for a
long time before they decided to marry. Susanna Stepanian from the
Armenian justice ministry said foreigners rarely marry Armenians. The
majority of mixed marriages usually involve Armenian citizens and
a Diaspora Armenian. Divorces are rare because Diaspora Armenians’
decisions are weighed and conscious, based on common Armenian national
peculiarities and traditions.

“For Diaspora Armenians it is very important to know where the bride
or fiance comes from and if they track down any bad reputation this
will undoubtedly affect their decision,” she said. She recalled a case
involving a young Armenian man who was born and grew up in the USA. His
family had lived in Armenia before moving to the USA, and they had not
lost touch with their next door neighbor in Armenia, whose daughter
eventually agreed to marry the American boy who visited Armenia
several times. Out of 26,000 marriages registered last year only 26
were mixed marriages between Armenian and foreign citizens. Susanna
Stepanian said she never had met a foreigner marrying an Armenian
citizen with an ulterior motive, as is the case with Armenians abroad,
because Armenian legislation is clear and simple concerning residence
permission or granting citizenship. She said three such couples
registered by the civilian registrar’s office this year decided to live
in Armenia. In order to find out what attracts Armenian men and women
to foreigners and vice versa, we asked Mane Asatrian from one of the
local international dating marriage clubs to share her impressions. She
said foreigners seeking an Armenian spouse usually have some knowledge
about the country and people. They are attracted by the Armenians’
traditional devotion to their families, and apply to such clubs
in the hope that their Armenian wife of husband will cement their
union. The majority of applicants are foreign men wishing to marry
an Armenian woman, whom they have heard are known for their modesty,
devotion to the family and are excellent mothers. They are mainly men
from the USA and Canada. One of them worked in Armenia for some time
and now keeps in touch with an Armenian girl here through email.

Mane Asatrian said the club has this year helped 20 people to establish
contacts. It also has hundreds of Armenian applicants, both men and
women, but the majority apply for reasons other than marriage. “On the
application forms they write simultaneously that they want to have
a nice time and to marry, which does not seem logical for a man or
woman wishing to marry. This means that the majority of applicants
do not appreciate the main goal of the club and try to take every
opportunity to live abroad,” she said. We also spoke with Armen
Ashotian, a member of parliament and chairman of the youth wing of
the governing Republican party. Ashotian welcomed any marriage,
especially a marriage between an Armenian citizen and a Diaspora
Armenian, and especially when they decide to settle down in Armenia.

ARMENIAN NURSES SELECTED TO WORK IN QATAR STILL IN YEREVAN

ArmenPress
July 12 2005

YEREVAN, JULY 12, ARMENPRESS: Four Armenian hospital nurses chosen by
Qatar health officials from tens of applicants for working in Qatar
hospitals are still in Armenia. A government-affiliated department in
charge of refugee and migrants issues, said the nurses’ documents are
ready and they also received visas, and the only remaining problem is
that the Qatari side has to cover the price of tickets, as envisaged
by their contracts.

The department said it will be continuing receiving applicants
from hospital nurses and has stopped receiving applications from
programmers, as the Qatari side has not reacted yet to his pledge to
choose programmers for working in Qatar.

THREE-DAY OSCE MONITORING TO BE HELD AT ARMENIAN-AZERI BORDER

PanArmenian News Network
July 18 2005

18.07.2005 03:11 — /PanARMENIAN.Net/ July 18-21 in the accord
with the mandate with the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office a recurrent monitoring will be held at the contact
line of the armed forces of Armenia and Nakhichevan. From the Azeri
side the monitoring will be held by field assistants of the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Imre Palatinus and Peter
Key. Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador
Andrzej Kasprzyk with his field assistants Miroslav Vimetal and
Alexander Samarsky will conduct the monitoring from the Armenian side.