Author: Emil Lazarian

Troops Dispatched to Tsalka
Civil Georgia, Georgia
May 12 2004
100-strong unit of Interior Troops were dispatched on May 11 to
Georgia’s southern multi-ethnic district of Tsalka.
The move follows clashes between the local ethnic Armenians and
Georgians on May 9. Several people were reportedly injured.
Ethnic Armenians comprise 57% of population of Tsalka district in
Kvemo Kartli region with population around 20,000, according to the
Georgian department of statistics.
4,500 ethnic Greeks, 2,500 ethnic Georgians, up to 2,000 Azerbaijanis
also live in the Tsalka district.
Local officials describe clashes between ethnic Georgians and
Armenians, which have been reported sporadically for several years,
as “a communal violence.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Anti-Mines Training Will Be Launched Saving Azeri Lives
Baku Today
May 12 2004
About 40,000 secondary school students will be trained in anti-mine
precautions in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan Education Ministry, Azerbaijani Anti-mines agency and
UNICEF have agreed to launch an educative project for schoolchildren
of bordering with the Armenian occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
The project has been allocated for the students from Agdam, Fizuli
and Khanlar regions.
The project would aim at raising mines awareness among youngsters to
preventing their lives from becoming mine targeted.
Anti-mines agency’s direcor Nazim Ismayilov said, the statistics of
the past years has shown that 16 per cent of those killed in mine
explosions were children aged 14.
Roughly 500 specialists will train the students
The project is worth $ 70,000.

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected] Website;
The Schedule of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian
We hereby present to Clergy and faithful of the Armenian Church of Canada the
schedule of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian for the month of May
May 9, Sunday Laval Holy Cross Church
AGBU Montreal, Mother’s Day celebration
May 11-14, Toronto, Holy Trinity Armenian Church
May 12-13, Wednesday Thursday
60th Anniversary of the establishment of Canadian Council of Churches. The
Primate will participate in the Opening Ceremony, Faith and Witness Commission’s
session celebration’s service.
May 15, Saturday Montreal Diocese, Honoring the Babayan Foundation and the
Benefactors of the Diocese.
May 16, Sunday Montreal St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral
May 18, Tuesday Toronto
Meeting with Archbishop Terrence Finley of the Anglican Church in Toronto
May 19, Wednesday Diocesan Camp committee meeting
May 20, Thursday The Assumption of our Lord -“Hampartsoum”- St Gregory the
Illuminator Cathedral.
22 May-June 3 Vancouver
May 25, Meeting with the Mayor of Vancouver
May 27, Thursday Clergy Conference
28-30 21st Diocesan Annual Assembly
June 2 “Louys” Armenian Choir concert in Vancouver with the participation of
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra organized by Diocesan Can-Armenian Association
for the Performing Arts Vancouver’s Chapter
Bishop Bagrat Galstanian’s meeting with His Eminence Jean Claude Cardinal
Turcotte
On May 3, 2004 His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate of the Armenian
Church Canadian Diocese made a courtesy visit to the leader of Roman Catholic
Church of Montreal His Eminence Jean Claude Cardinal Turcotte. The meeting
was held at the Roman Catholic Archdiocesan Headquarters in Montreal.
Accompanying the Primate were representatives of Montreal Armenian Community Me. Vartan
Dellekian, Mr. Jack Seraydarian, Mr. Viken Darakjian as well as Very Rev Fr
Ararat Kaltakjian, Vicar General and Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the
Primate.
His Eminence Bishop Galstanian thanked Cardinal Turcotte for sending his
personal representative to participate in Martyrs’ Prayer and Ecumenical Service
ceremony that was held on the 23rd of April 2004.
Discussions were focused on the relationship between Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of Montreal and Armenian Church Canadian Diocese, perspectives on future
Ecumenical Relations in Greater Montreal area as well as the role and the
mission of Christian Churches in Canadian society. The two leaders agreed upon
supporting interchurch and interfaith activities so that the presence and unity of
Christians would be visible and fruitful.
Annual Meeting of Children’s Fund for Armenia, Montreal Chapter
The Annual meeting of Children’s Fund for Armenia Montreal Chapter took place
in the Diocesan headquarters, 615 Stuart, during which the report of the
Director and the activities of the last year were the focus of discussions.
Very Rev Fr Ararat Kaltakjian, Vicar General and Director of Armenia Projects
presented the annual Report of Activities which highly appreciated by the
members of CFFA executive and the sponsors. The Diocese of the Armenian Church of
Canada sponsors around 1000 (one thousand) Armenian orphans in motherland,
Armenia. Currently the Director of this project is Very Reverend Father Ararat
Kaltakjian. Following the meeting a new executive was elected.
His Eminence Bishop Bagrat galstanian, President
Very Rev Father Ararat kaltakjian, Director
Mr. Garbis Aposhian, Chairman
Ms Varsenik Nazoyan, Vice Chairman
Mrs. Anahid Demirodgen, Secretary
Ms Hasmig Keropian, Vice Secretary
Mrs. Imasdouhi Nigoghossian, Treasurer
Ms Karmen Mousakhanian, Accountant
Ms Hilda Tursucuyan, Advisor
Mrs. Veron Surmenian, Public Relation
Celebration of Holy Badarak in Windsor
On Saturday, May 1, 2004 Bishop Bagrat Galstanian accompanied by Rev Fr
Hayrig Hovhannissian visited Holy Resurrection Armenia Church of Windsor, Ontario.
Members of the Parish Council welcomed His Eminence Bishop Galstanian and
Reverend Father Hayrig Hovhannissian. During a cordial meeting with parish council
members and representatives of Windsor Armenian Community, Bishop Galstanian
presented his perspectives to reorganize the social and spiritual life of the
Armenian community of Windsor.
The next day, May 2, 2004 His Eminence Bishop Galstanian celebrated Divine
Liturgy. Parish Council members and faithful attended the Divine Liturgy. On
this occasion, the Message of Commendation of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenian, addressed to Mr. Herman Khentirian and
his family members was delivered.
Following the Divine Liturgy a reception in honor of Bishop Galstanian was
held.
Reception in honor of the members of Children’s Choir
On Tuesday May 5, 2004 His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian hosted a
reception in honor of the members of the Children’s Choir of St Gregory the
Illuminator Armenian Cathedral. The children of the Choir and their parents as well as
members of the executive committee and Rev Fr Vazgen Boyajyan, Pastor of St
Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Cathedral were present.
Rev Fr Vazgen Boyajyan thanked Bishop Galstanian for the initiative. His
Emnence Bishop Galstanian, Primate expressed his joy on the occasion of the
establishment of the Children’s Choir and promised to fully support this mission in
every way possible.
Divan of the Diocese

1.2 MILLION ARMENIANS APPLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD
ArmenPress
May 11 2004
YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS: Armenian employment and social affairs
minister Aghvan Vardanian told a news conference today that some 1.2
million Armenians have already applied for social security cards and
added that the government is not going to extend the deadline for
application beyond July 1.
The government first suggested to introduce the system of social
security cards last year and the first bill appeared as “identity
cards”. According to the reform, each Armenian citizen must have the
lifetime card with a 10-digit number of a citizen’s personal data,
which will be used for opening a bank account, paying taxes, applying
for state benefits and identification at healthcare facilities.
The government said the cards would increase the efficiency of
state-run agencies and help it reduce the volume of corruption,
however, the idea was opposed strongly by the Armenian Church,
whose main counter-argument was that the name “identity card’ must
be replaced by another one, as the word “identity card” contradicts
Biblical precepts, found in the New Testament Book of Revelation. The
government met halfway this demand and changed the name of the
“identity cards” into “social security cards.”
According to the law, the use of the cards is mandatory for all
financial transactions including receiving pensions and family
benefits, paying taxes and social insurance. The minister said
today those citizens who will refuse cards will be subjected to
administrative fines.
Shifting to politics, the minister ruled out “a revolutionary
situation” in Armenia, incited by heavy social conditions, admitting,
however, that a great majority of people are in still desperate
conditions, but went on to argue that Armenians are not apt to revolt
because of poor living standards.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIRST SUSPECT OF ATTACK ON JOURNALISTS DURING OPPOSITION RALLY IN YEREVAN
APRIL 5 REVEALED
11.05.2004 19:07
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Yerevan Prosecutor’s Office continues the
investigation of the case of attacks on journalists during a rally of
National Unification opposition party April 5. As reported by the Press
Service of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Armenia, by now
it has come out that among those, who attacked media representatives
and broke cameras and video facilities, was resident of Yerevan Ashot
Avetisian with nickname “Bangladeshci Hro” (born in 1969).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of New York
PO Box 693
Woodside, NY 11377
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
May 11, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tony Vartanian
[email protected]
NEW YORK CITY COMMEMORATES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
— Remembrance Program Organized by the Armenian National Committee
(ANC) of New York and the Friends of the ANC of New York
NEW YORK, NY–Elected officials from the U.S. Congress, the New York
City Council, Armenia’s ambassador to the United Nations, along with
two eminent historians of genocide, offered enlightening remarks at the
City Hall of New York City on the 89th commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide, which was organized by the Armenian National Committee
(ANC) of New York and the Friends of the ANC of New York. Addressing
an audience of over four hundred at the April 23 event, the invited
speakers took to the podium and applauded recent victories achieved
in global and domestic recognition of the Genocide while speaking
earnestly of the urgent need for further progress.
Following an eloquent invocation by His Eminence Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan and an introduction by New York ANC chairperson
Tony Vartanian, two City Council members who sponsored the
event spoke of New York City’s support of and dedication to the
Armenian cause. Speaker of the Council A. Gifford Miller and
Councilwoman Melinda Katz affirmed their commitment to serving
their Armenian-American constituency, and praised the hard work and
dedication of Armenians working on their support staffs.
Following the council members, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY),
Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY), and Congressman Anthony Weiner
(D-NY) offered their remarks. Ms. Maloney spoke first, describing the
recent breakthroughs in Genocide recognition in Canada, Switzerland
and The New York Times. Congressman Crowley reflected on his recent
opportunity as the first member of Congress to visit Armenia, while
describing for the audience how his experience as an Irish-American
informed his support of the Armenian cause. Congressman Weiner
cogently described how the Ottoman Government conducted the Genocide
and stressed the importance of Jewish support for Armenian genocide
recognition. There followed a short musical interlude, in which the
Armenian a cappella trio Zulal sang two hauntingly beautiful Armenian
folk songs.
After their performance, Professor Peter Balakian of Colgate University
drew upon his best-selling book The Burning Tigris, discussing the
American humanitarian response to the Armenian massacres of the 1890’s
and the Armenian Genocide a quarter century later. “In Faneuil Hall,
social reformers like Julia Ward Howe spoke passionately for the
plight of the Armenians. Organizations like Near East Relief and the
Committee on Armenian Atrocities made up the first American response to
an international human rights crisis. The first full fledged mission
of the American Red Cross outside the United States was in Armenia,”
said Balakian.
Professor. Robert Melson of Purdue University followed Balakian by
making a comparative analysis of the Armenian Genocide and the Jewish
Holocaust. In a unique and effective approach, Dr. Melson explained how
social revolutionary governments, which developed programs for creating
racially pure states, had preceded both. The link between the two
genocides reaffirmed the actuality that the systematic extermination
of the Armenian Genocide was the basis of the model implemented by
the Nazi regime of World War II upon the European Jewish population.
Consistent with the vision of the Armenian National Committee, the
New York chapter encouraged the participation of the young leaders
of the New York American-Armenian community in this years Genocide
Commemoration. Arousiag Markarian spoke on behalf of the community’s
young activists. As the chairperson of the Armenian Youth Federation
of New York and a leader in many other collegiate and community
organizations, Ms. Markarian expressed the vigor and enthusiasm of the
Armenian youth concerning American-Armenian issues. She stressed the
importance of organizations, like the Armenian National Committee,
that provide a channel for the Diaspora to play an active role in
issues that directly affect our communities locally and globally.
Armenia’s ambassador to the United Nations Armen Martirossian concluded
the evening with remarks on Armenia past, present and future. After
speaking about the need for Genocide recognition, Mr. Martirossian
went on tell the audience about the challenges facing the building
of civil society in independent Armenia. His words came as a reminder
that the Armenian-American community still has a large part to play in
both areas. Speaking with conviction, he reminded those present that
“We are the guarantee for the tragedy not to repeat itself.”
The Armenian National Committee (ANC) is the largest Armenian American
grassroots political organization in New York and nationwide. The ANC
actively advances a broad range of issues of concern to the Armenian
American community.
####
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Yerevan invites Kyiv to Iran-Armenia pipeline tender
Interfax
May 12 2004
Moscow. (Interfax) – Armenia is inviting Ukraine to bid in a tender
for the building of an Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, Armenian Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan announced at a joint press conference
with his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovich on Tuesday in the
Ukrainian capital.
Margaryan said this was one of the main topics discussed by the
Armenian-Ukrainian commission for trade and economic relations
on Tuesday.
He noted that his country and Iran are engaged in technical
consultations, after which will be discussions of financial details
and then the announcement of the construction tender.
“We are confident Ukraine will take part in it,” Margaryan said.
As reported earlier, a final agreement on building the gas pipeline
is expected to be signed in late May during a visit to Yerevan by
Irani Oil and Gas Minister Bijan Zanganeh.
The actual construction is slated to begin late this year and be
completed sometime in 2006.
According to documents signed earlier, the Iran-Armenia pipeline will
run 141 kilometers, 100 km in Iran and 41 km in Armenia. The project
price tag is estimated at $120 million. Plans are for Armenia to
receive 700 million cubic meters of gas per year via the pipeline
initially, up to 1.5 billion cubic meters later on. Armenia will
pay for the Irani gas with electricity at 3 kilowatt/hours per cubic
meter of gas.
Building this pipeline has been a discussion subject since 1992.
Aside from the main project players, Russia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,
China and some European Union countries have shown interest. The
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced
its readiness to be part of the project financing.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DIPLOMATS MAKE ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO SETTLE KARABAKH CONFLICT
RIA Novosti, Russia
May 12 2004
BAKU/YEREVAN, May 12, (RIA Novosti) – Vardan Oskanyan, Armenia’s
foreign minister, and Elmar Mamedyarov, Azerbaijan’s foreign
minister, will discuss a settlement of the Nagorny-Karabakh conflict
in Strasbourg.
The meeting will take place within the framework of a Council of
Europe foreign ministers session and the cochairmen of the OSCE Minsk
Group on Nagorny Karabakh from the United States, Russia and France
will participate in the meeting.
Speaking about the coming meeting in Strasbourg, Yuri Merzlyakov, the
Russian cochairman, said that the meeting of foreign ministers “will
have an open agenda, that is, the sides of the conflict and the
cochairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group can put forth any proposals at the
meeting.”
According to Mr. Merzlyakov, “the mediators want to find a compromise
between the so-called package and the stage-by-stage methods of
settling the conflict.”
The press secretary of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Gamlet
Gasparyan, said that “so far, there is no clear or fixed agenda of
the negotiations.” He added that a meeting of the personal
representatives of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan on a
Nagorny Karabakh settlement was not planned to be held in Strasbourg.
The head of the press service of the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry,
Metin Mirza, also said that he had no information about consultations
being held in Strasbourg between the personal representatives of the
Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents on a Karabakh settlement – Deputy
Foreign Ministers Tatul Margaryan and Araz Azimov.
On April 28, Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and President
Robert Kocharyan of Armenia met within the framework of the European
Economic Summit in Warsaw. After the meeting they stated that they
supported intensifying the negotiation process on a settlement to the
Karabakh conflict.
After it was defeated in a war with Armenia over Nagorny Karabakh
(formally against Yerevan-supported armed units of the Armenian
enclave in Azerbaijan whose capital is in Stepanakert and who wanted
independence from Azerbaijan and their own state), Azerbaijan lost up
to 30% of its own territory and over a million of its citizens have
become refugees. Baku says that it will never reconcile the loss of
Nagorny Karabakh and expresses its readiness to grant it autonomy but
only as part of a united Azerbaijani state. However, seemingly
neither Yerevan nor Stepanakert even consider this possibility.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian leader to visit Russia on 13-15 May
ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
11 May 04
Yerevan, 11 May, ITAR-TASS correspondent Tigran Liloyan: Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan will pay a working visit to Moscow this
week, the press secretary of the republic’s president, Ashot Kocharyan,
has said. The trip will take place on 13-15 May, he clarified.
“Relations with Russia have the nature of strategic partnership and
are an important factor that ensures Armenia’s economic development
and security.” Robert Kocharyan’s official visit to Russia in January
last year, during which the two countries’ presidents continued their
dialogue, was an important stage in developing bilateral relations,
he recalled.
According to the press secretary, priority importance is attached to
economic cooperation at the moment. In this context, prospects for
economic development and for expanding economic relations will be
examined, Ashot Kocharyan said. The Armenian president will meet the
heads of Russian companies which supply natural gas to the republic,
as well as other representatives of business circles in Moscow.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Georgian president says soccer violence was not ethnic conflict
Mediamax news agency
12 May 04
Yerevan, 12 May: Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said one should
not consider the fight between Georgians and [ethnic] Armenians in
the Tsalka region of Georgia as an ethnic conflict.
“I don’t want to dramatize the situation. This is not an inter-ethnic
conflict. It was a common fight between Georgians and Armenians. But
we will not allow violation of law and order and we are not going to
be involved in a provocation,” the Georgian president said on 11 May.
Mikheil Saakashvili noted that “after the developments in Ajaria,
Georgia’s enemies retreated.”
“Our neighbours do not hide their admiration for the peaceful
settlement of the situation in Ajaria. The Armenian and Ukrainian
Presidents told me about this in a telephone talk,” Saakashvili said.
According to him, “Some of Georgia’s enemies want to involve the
country in a new conflict.”
“We will not allow any blackmail and will give a due answer to
everybody,” Saakashvili said.
A fight between Armenians and Georgians took place after a football
match in the centre of Tsalka (Eastern Georgia), as a result of which
10 people were injured.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress