Author: Emil Lazarian

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 July 30, 2004
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL BE IN MASSACHUSETTS
Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Camp Haiastan, Franklin,
Massachusetts, where he will preside over the Andastan Service on Sunday,
August 1, during the annual summer picnic sponsored by the St. Stephen
parish of Watertown.
Andastan service is the blessing of the harvest and blesses the four
corners of the world, East, West, South and North and concludes with this
benediction: Oh Christ our God, guardian and hope of the faithful, protect
and keep in peace your faithful people under the protection of Your Holy and
venerable cross; their family, their home, the bread, the salt, and the
water. Save them Oh Lord, from visible and invisible enemies and make them
worthy to glorify You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always,
forever and ever. Amen.
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN OF
ST. GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR
This Saturday, July 31, the Armenian Church remembers the children and
grandchildren of St. Gregory the Illuminator: Saints Aristakes, Vrtanes,
Housik, Grigoris, and Daniel. Paganism and anti-Christian values were
prevalent in Armenia in spite of the missionary work of St. Gregory and King
Drtad. The sons and grandsons of Gregory continued the mission to spread
Christianity. Their efforts continued to strengthen the young church.
St. Gregory was succeeded by his son, Aristakes, as Catholicos.
Aristakes was martyred in 333 and was succeeded by his brother, Vertanes.
Housik, son of Vertanes, succeeded his father. Housik was succeeded by a
grandson rather than his son. This grandson was St. Nerses the Great who is
often referred to as the Second Illuminator. But, that is another story for
another day. Grigoris became the first Bishop of Georgia and Caucasian
Albania. Daniel, although neither a son nor grandson of Gregory, is included
in this commemoration. He was a student of Gregory and helped in the
conversion to Christianity.
JORDANIAN PRINCE VISITS ARAM I
His Highness Prince Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan recently visited His
Holiness Catholicos Aram I in Antelias, Lebanon, where the See of Cilicia is
located. The Prince and the Catholicos are actively involved in the
Christian-Moslem dialogue and both of them stressed the crucial importance
of deepening the interfaith dialogue as an important instrument for peace,
justice, and reconciliation.
CILICIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY CONCLUDES 74TH YEAR
The Armenian Theological Seminary of the Cilician See in Bikfaya,
Lebanon, brought its 74th year to a successful conclusion on June 25. That
the fruits of the Seminary have had a worldwide impact cannot be disputed.
During the past 74 years thousands of young Armenians have passed through
the Seminary. Among its students have been future catholicoses, archbishops,
bishops, celibate and married priests, teachers, headmaster, and choir
directors, as well as writers and intellectuals. The history of this
institution is a tribute to the dedication and intelligence of the Armenian
people. Since its founding in 1930, the Antelias Seminary has produced four
catholicoses: Zareh I (first graduate of the Seminary); Khoren I, Karekin II
(later also Karekin I of Etchmiadzin), and Aram I, the current catholicos.
The 75th anniversary of this venerable institution will be commemorated
worldwide next year.
PAN-ARMENIAN EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE
Last week we reported that the Executive Director of the Armenian
National Education Committee (ANEC), Gilda Kupelian, will attend two
upcoming conferences. We neglected to mention that Mrs. Nayiri Balanian,
chair of ANEC, will also be attending the Pan-Armenian Educational
Conference in Yerevan, Armenia.
IN NEED OF SPONSORS
The orphan sponsorship program started by the Prelacy in 1993 is now
well established and extremely efficient in its operation. Currently more
than 700 children are enrolled in the program. About 100 children are
waiting for sponsors. Annual sponsorship is only $180. We are so fortunate
to live at a time and place where we are blessed with many gifts. Please
remember that there are many people, especially children, less fortunate who
need our assistance. If you would like to sponsor a child in Armenia or
Artsakh contact the Prelacy office, 212-689-7810.
Here are some excerpts from letters we have recently received from
sponsored children:
From Datevig: I was born November 9, 1991. I was born seven months after
my father died, so I have never seen my father, nor have I seen his grave.
My father was a freedom fighter and a hero. My mother’s name is Irina. She
has been suffering from illness for many years. I have two sisters. Dear
sponsor, on behalf of my family I want to thank you. We are grateful for
your help. We wish you good health, happiness and peace.
>From Kevork: I was born March 10, 1990. I am currently in the sixth grade.
We have six people in our family. My father, Gabriel, was a freedom fighter
in Artsakh. He was killed on April 24, 1994. I am proud to be a son of such
a father and I hope I will be like him.
From Gohar: I am eleven years old and in fifth grade. It is true that I
am very proud of my father, but I must be truthful and say that I miss my
father very much, especially when I see my friends walking hand-in-hand with
their fathers. I am deprived of that joy. I am happy to have a benefactor
like you and I consider you to be a part of my family. I love you very much.
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it is in your power to
help them. If you can help your neighbor now, do not say, Come back
tomorrow, and then I will help you.
Proverbs 3:27-28
Visit our website at
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
July 30 2004
MEETING AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY
[July 30, 2004, 22:48:41]
Head of the OSCE mission to Slovenia Yanez Lenartziz on 30 July met
the foreign minister of Azerbaijan Republic Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov,
AzerTAj correspondent reported.
Reminding that Slovenia will preside at OSCE in 2005, noted that
Azerbaijan’s position is very important for him. The guest also took
interest in contacts of the Ministry with the OSCE Baku Office.
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov spoke of the links between Azerbaijan and
OSCE, updated on the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group in settlement
of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict. Expressing with
deep regret that the Minsk Group’s activity has not yielded any
conclusion the Minister stated that he hopes for Slovenia’s efforts
in this direction as future OSCE chair. Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
reminded the UN Security Council’s four Resolutions on the question
and principles of the Lisbon Summit, underlining that the aggressive
and ethnic cleaning policy of Armenia should not be justified.
As far as the links with the OSCE Baku Office, the Minister said that
they are acting jointly in this direction. He also expressed
confidence that the OSCE and world community would protest against
the so-called `elections to the municipalities in the Nagorny
Karabakh region’ on 8 August.
Noting that he attaches great significance to the links between
Azerbaijan and his country, Mr. Yanez Lenatrziz said that he would
not spare his efforts for fair settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh
conflict.
The sides discussed a number of other issues of mutual interest.

CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANIZATION OF IRAN SET TERRITORY OF CLOISTER OF
ST. THADDEUS AS HISTORICAL MONUMENT
TEHRAN, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). The cultural heritage organization of
the Islamic Republic of Iran set the territory of the cloister of
St. Thaddeus as a historical monument, as well as set the order of
protection of the territory and architectural standards. The Public
Relations Department of the Embassy of Iran in Armenia reported,
quoting IRNA News Agency, The cloister of St. Thaddeus has unique
importance for the Armenian nation of the whole world, and every year
numerous Armenians and believers of other Christian confessions go on
a pilgrimage to the cloister and hold religious ceremonies these
days. According to the report of the Information Center of the
cultural heritage organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, “each
step, which will damage the appearance aand foundation of the church,
will destroy its general and natural image, as well as the building of
temporary and permanent construction, any interference into the
historiacal image of the church, including reconstruction, widening,
repairs and renewal is prohibited without the permission of the
cultural heritage organization.” The cloister of St. Thaddeus, which
is one of the most important and famous churches of Iran, is situated
in the north-east of the Chaldran Valley, and in terms of its
construction view is like the Mother See Cathedral of Echmiadzin. The
current building of the church consists of two parts: old and new. The
sector with black stones was constructed in 1329, and the new sector
was completely constructed of white stone due to Abbas Mirza King in
1820.

Armenia: Political struggle ahead of parliamentary elections eyed
Iravunk web site, Yerevan
30 Jul 04
Text of Armen Arakelyan report by Armenian news agency Iravunk web
site on 30 July headlined “Summer sun with flavour of political
speculation”
The opposition has gone on holiday, with the possible exception of the
leader of the People’s Party of Armenia, Stepan Demirchyan, who is
visiting the USA and meeting with state officials and the Armenian
diaspora. President Robert Kocharyan has gone on a 10-day holiday as
well. Nonetheless, internal political processes do continue, albeit in
a hidden form.
Naturally, the summer holidays do not hinder the intrigues within the
pyramid of power at all. For example, according to some reports,
presidential adviser [on security issues] Garnik Isagulyan, together
with other influential officials, is waging an “office war” with the
top presidential aide [state legal adviser Artavazd Gevorkyan]. Rumour
has it that the president was displeased with his top aide when “good
people” told him about some personnel intrigues of A. Gevorkyan, of
which fact, naturally, the ” almighty” aide’s ill-wishers immediately
took advantage.
The policy of “dumping” compromising materials [Russian: sliv
kompromatov] is being implemented quite actively as well. Statesmen
use this technology to snitch on one another via the press, calling
one another the organizers of stock exchange manipulations which
resulted in dramatic fluctuations in the dollar exchange
rate. Allegations about the 27 October 1999 terrorist act have been
renewed again at the level of rumours and “dumping”, and someone
purposefully whispers into journalists’ ears [as published] piquant
details about the role of different quite influential and high-level
persons in that crime. However, no-one can guarantee the reliability
of these “details”, but who knowsý
Of course, the greatest number of rumours in Armenia are about
imminent personnel changes. There is talk that the president intends
to sack a number of unpopular ministers and thereby upset the
coalition balance. If this happens, instability in parliament will
become inevitable.
Incidentally, the discussion on the draft electoral code and rumours
about the possible dissolution of parliament were launched almost
simultaneously.In the Armenian political reality, the electoral law is
usually changed a few months before the elections, so that it meets
the requirements of different political or other groups. It follows,
therefore, that the urgent summer discussions about the electoral code
mean that the president intends to do something.
In particular, among the suggested changes is the mandatory
resignation of the executive branch before the candidates for the
parliamentary elections are nominated. This means that any minister
who runs in the elections will be deprived of his own administrative
resources and will be forced to rely solely on the administrative
resources of the president.
All in all, changes gather head during the summer holidays, and they
might change substantially the arrangement of political forces before
the autumn political battles.
[signed] Armen Arakelyan

LIABILITIES OF ARMENIA’S BANKING SYSTEM DECREASE BY 1.4% IN SECOND
QUARTER OF 2004
YEREVAN, JULY 28. ARMINFO. Total liabilities of the country’s banking
system, decreased by 1.4% in the second quarter of 2004, making up
255.2 bln drams by July 1, 2004. It was accounted for by a decline in
a number of indicators in the structure of liabilities, the
press-service of the Armenian Central Bank told ARMINFO
In particular, the liabilities to banks and other financial
orgnaizations totaled 33.8 bln drams, decreasing by 19.7%. At the same
time, a 36.7 per cent growth was fixed on the funds on correspondent
accounts, which reached 5.4 bln drams. Liabilities to the Government
decreased by 3.1% in the quarter under review, totaling 12.8 bln
drams. Fixed deposits of natural persons decreased by 2.3%, totaling
50.9 bln drams, while fixed deposits of legal entities increased by
5.5%, reaching 26.9 bln drams. Call liabilities increased by 2.4%
totaling 114.2 bln drams. Other liabilities increased by 15.4%,
reaching 15.3 bln drams. The paid interests increased by 1.8%,
reaching 1.3 bln drams.
According to the ranking of Armenian’s commercial banks drawn up by
ARMINFO news agency, in the first half of 2004 the liabilities of 14
commercial banks increased, the highest growth was fixed on 3 banks,
including Artsakhbank (48%). As to the remaining 5 banks, liabilities
decreased, with one bank showing the lowest indicator.
The results of the activity of the banking system, on June 30, 2004,
were summed up on the basis of data of 19 normally operating banks,
the CB press-service reports.

Messenger.ge, Georgia
July 29 2004
Georgia strikes electricity deal
New plan uses Armenia as energy corridor with Iran
By Christina Tashkevich
Georgia is to begin exporting its summer-time electricity surplus to
Iran through Armenia, in return for imported Iranian electricity in
winter time, the Minister of Energy Nika Gilauri announced earlier
this week.
According to the Armenian Minister of Energy Armen Movsesian, who was
part of the Armenian delegation visiting Georgia this week, his
country is ready to help Georgia to do this, although he added that
the Armenian government is not currently prepared to consider
reducing its tariff on electricity imports, as Georgia has asked it
to.
Nevertheless, Gilauri is hopeful that a discount may be offered. As
he explained to journalists, the electricity tariffs are set by the
Armenian Energy Regulatory Commission and therefore the delegation
was not permitted to decide on this issue.
Any change to the tariff may depend on the controversial issue of
Georgia’s energy debt to Armenia. Georgia denies owing Armenia USD 6
million for supplying electricity in 2000, claiming it has already
paid off the debt, while Armenia says it has not received the money.
The sides chose not to discuss the issue during the Armenian
delegation’s visit, and instead agreed to create special working
groups which will work on resolving this issue in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Armenia is ready to supply Georgia will electricity
through the Alaverdi electricity transmission line, and could also
supply Georgia with Iranian gas. The news agency Iran.ru cites
Minister of the Foreign Affairs Salome Zurabishvili as saying that
Georgia is interested in importing Iranian gas through the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, and also as suggesting that a transit gas
pipeline be constructed in the Caucasus.
However, it has also been suggested that Georgia plans to import gas
from Iran not through Armenia but through its other South Caucasian
neighbor, Azerbaijan. After his visit to Iran in early July, Minister
Gilauri said he had had talks concerning importing Iranian gas
through Azerbaijan and that this would be a reserve gas route for
Georgia after Russia.
“Rehabilitation works are needed to import gas and create additional
gas reserves for Georgia so that we are not dependent on a single
country,” said Gilauri. He says the route needs repairs, which will
cost USD 1.8 million and will take four months.
The government now expects to finalize agreements during a reciprocal
visit to Armenia this week. From the talks during the recent visit in
Tbilisi, it is apparent that Georgia considers cooperation with
Armenia integral to the economy. “It is impossible to imagine the
development of Georgia without Armenia,” Prime Minister Zhvania said
on Monday.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Council of Europe Spokesperson and Press Division
Ref: 384a04
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
[email protected]
internet:
Anti-torture committee publishes its first report on Armenia
Strasbourg, 28.07.2004 – The Council of Europe’s Committee for the
Prevention of Torture (CPT) has today published its first report on Armenia,
following a visit to the country in October 2002.
In the report, the CPT concludes that people detained by the police in
Armenia run a significant risk of being ill-treated. The Commitee therefore
recommends that a high priority be given to professional training for police
officers, including in modern investigation techniques.
The report also draws attention to overcrowding in prisons and the shortage
of activities for inmates. Furthermore, the CPT calls for urgent steps to
improve the conditions in which people sentenced to life imprisonment are
being held at Nubarashen Prison, and highlights major deficiencies at
Nubarashen Republican Psychiatric Hospital.
In their official responses to the report, the Armenian authorities refer to
measures which have been taken to improve police training and to step up the
control of police activities. The authorities also announce a reduction of
the prison population, following the adoption of a new Criminal Code, and
highlight measures aimed at improving conditions at the Nubarashen
facilities.
The CPT report and the responses of the Armenian Government have been made
public with the agreement of the Armenian authorities. They are all
available on the CPT’s website:
To receive our press releases by e-mail, contact :
[email protected]
A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to
promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common
responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 45 member states.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pravda, Russia
July 28 2004
Latvia to host young performers’ festival
12:33 2004-07-28
Latvia’s Jurmala resort is to host the third New Wave international
festival of young pop music performers; this contest is to open at
the Dzintari concert hall (that seats more than 2,000) July 28,
lasting until August 1.
The finals will involve 16 singers from 13 countries, i.e. Armenia,
Germany, Israel, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Russia,
the United States, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Estonia. Russia will be
represented by Alexei Chumakov, Anastasia Gonchar and Irina Dubtsova,
as well as by the Mikki-Zlata duo.
The winner will get the Crystal Wave prize, as well as $25,000. Those
placing second and third will be entitled to diplomas, as well as
$20,000 and $15,000, respectively.
Each participant will sing his or her national song the very first
day, i.e. July 29. Singers will perform hits to their liking in the
second round; meanwhile the third round will feature songs, which
were written especially for this festival.
All performers shall be judged by a jury under the supervision of
composers Igor Krutoi and Raimonds Pauls, who had organized this
festival. The jury includes well-known composers and singers Vladimir
Matetsky, Igor Nikolayev, Leonid Agutin, Laima Vaikule, as well as
British producer Steve Lyon.
Many Russian pop stars, as well as Great Britain’s Bony Tyler and
Thomas Anders, have been invited to attend the festival.
Anastasia Stotskaya, who won the 2002 New Wave contest, will attend
this year’s opening ceremony, with Philip Kirkorov singing at the
Dzintari concert hall that same evening, after the ceremony winds up.
Josef Kobzon, who will host the contest’s second evening, was unable
to attend last year because Latvian authorities had declared him
persona non grata, who allegedly threatened national security.
Latvia’s newly-appointed Interior Minister Eriks Jekabsons decided
not to blacklist the Russian singer a month ago and to allow him to
enter the country.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 28 2004
Opposition Leader Calls for Protest against Armenian Officers’
Arrival in Baku
The Unified Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (UAPFP) will be organizing
a series of pickets outside the ministries of Defense and Foreign
Affairs, as well as the embassies of NATO member states in Baku to
protest against the participation of Armenian officers in NATO
training to be held in Azerbaijan this September.
MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev, chairman of the UAPFP, told a Tuesday news
conference that his party had applied to several international
organizations and some foreign embassies in Baku requesting them to
prevent the Armenian officers’ visit to the Azerbaijani capital.
Hasanguliyev stressed that if the Azerbaijani community showed a
strong protest the relevant governmental bodies and international
organizations would give in.

Deseret News, UT
July 28 2004
Birth nurses have big impact
Effect on patient, hospital’s future cited in BYU study
By Lois M. Collins
Deseret Morning News
What a nurse does in the delivery room to “dignify” the
birthing process may have lasting impact on the emotional well-being
of the patient and the economic future of the hospital, according to
a recently published study.
The results of research conducted by Brigham Young University
nursing professor Lynn Callister and co-authored by undergraduate
Rachel Matthews is published in the current issue of the Journal of
Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing.
“Even though this is an experience that lasts hours at most,
it’s a life-changing event that influences a woman for the rest of
her life,” Callister said in an e-mail interview with the Deseret
Morning News. She is in Russia on a Fulbright Fellowship. “The
satisfaction of a woman with her care while giving birth has a
lasting impact on her perceptions about the quality of the
health-care facility.
“Dignity represents an affirmation of being treated with
respect, experiencing open communication, engendering a sense of
confidence that power is shared and providing the woman with a sense
of individual worth,” she said.
She added that some believe a good birth experience does many
positive things, from enhancing the woman’s sense of self-worth and
helping her accept her maternal role to improving a couple’s
relationship and generally enriching the family experience.
The BYU researchers interviewed first-time mothers who had
given birth in the last three months. After each woman described her
child’s birth, responses were categorized and common issues
identified.
“The birthing experience doesn’t really depend on your doctor,”
one participant told them. “He’s there the last five or 10 minutes.
It’s the nurse that’s with you through the whole 12 hours. She plays
even a bigger role than the doctor.”
The mothers said that nurses best show respect for the birth
experience by sharing joy, communicating clearly, heeding the
mother’s requests and acknowledging the woman’s strength and courage
during the delivery process.
“Giving birth should be celebrated as a birthday party,”
Callister said, “and having the sense that her caregivers are
celebratory, that they have a desire to individualize her care and
are listening to what she is saying is so important.”
To illustrate the point, Callister tells of a woman for whom
delivery was moving so fast that it was too late for pain medication.
Contractions were coming fast and hard when the nurse cupped the
soon-to-be mother’s face in her hands, looked into her eyes and said,
“Nina, look at me and focus. Breathe with me. You can do it and I
will help you.” Later, the patient credited the nurse with helping
her find strength she didn’t know she had.
Callister can also tell stories that demonstrate what appeared
to the woman giving birth to be a lack of care. And she cites a
landmark study that has already shown “perceived lack of a caring
approach during such a vulnerable time was one of the core components
. . . for a traumatic birth.”
It’s a point, she said, to which hospitals and birthing
facilities should pay attention.
“In the majority of households in the United States, women are
the gatekeepers for family health and the decisionmakers about
seeking health care. Studies have demonstrated that when women have a
quality experience with a health-care facility, they are more likely
to make future health-care decisions that involve the same
institution,” Callister said. “If a woman has a positive experience
with a medical center, she is more likely to take an elderly parent
to that facility for care.”
Approximately 6 million American women become pregnant each
year.
While in Russia, Callister has been interviewing Russian women
who recently gave birth, and she has two students who are collecting
data on Armenian and Ukrainian childbearing women, as well, she said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress