Author: Emil Lazarian

YURI MERZLYAKOV, RUSSIAN CO-CHAIRMAN OF OSCE, COMMENTS MEETING OF
CO-CHAIRMEN WITH FA MINISTERS
Azerbaijan News Service
April 19 2005
2005-04-19 20:33 — Meeting of OSCE Minsk group co-reporters with FA
ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia was constructive and useful, said
Yuriy Merzlyakov, Russian co-chairman of Minsk group. We have very
intensive exchange of views. And I appreciate consultations in this
stage of talks. Proposals made in the course of talks will be reviewed
in the meeting of presidents. According to him Anjey Kasprshik,
besides special statement of co-chairmen on worsening of situation
in contact line, special representative of chairman in office of OSCE
raised question on three Azerbaijani soldiers’ being hold captive by
Armenians. The issue is under control and I hope as it has been brought
to each side’s attention, it will be solved soon. He said there is
need for the meeting of FA ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia. These
meetings are preparation to meeting of two presidents. So, we want
to hold broader talks with each side-Azerbaijan and Armenia on the
eve of that meeting. According to him, Vardan Oskanyan, FA minister
of Armenia will not participate in next meeting of FA ministers and
OSCE co-chairmen on April in Frankfurt.

NON-CORRESPONDING VIOLATIONS
A1plus
| 15:24:06 | 20-04-2005 | Social |
«After the end of the Genocide there have been counter-actions from
the Armenian military volunteers against the Turks», said today
Ashot Melqonyan, head of the History Institute, bringing as wittness
the book by the German scientists Mr. Nad Mrs. Gustner about the
Armenian Genocide.
He informed that in the Turlish archives a 12-page document has
been found in which it is written about the violations of the Turks
against the Armenian. But there is also a page in which it is written
about the cruelty of Aremenians towards the Turks. « «Many people
sya that we must exclude that page. But I am against it, as firstly,
that page is part of the history, and secodnly, if we do so, we will
reach down the level of the Turks», said Ashot Melqonyan.
–Boundary_(ID_QIxgFzjHcI97ytYanYmVdw)–

PATRIARCH CONGRATULATES NEW POPE
ISTANBUL (Lraper Church Bulletin, 20/04/2005) – His Beatitude Mesrob II,
Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey, sent a congratulatory letter
to the New Pope, His Holiness Benedict XVI.
The content of the letter is as follows:
“Your Holiness,
Beloved Brother in Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,
It is with great spiritual joy that I congratulate you on the occasion of
your election, on 19 April 2005, as the 264th incumbent of the Holy See of
Rome.
The passing and the interment of His Holiness Pope John Paul II of blessed
memory demonstrated the impact the Holy See of Rome has on the whole world
as a great centre of the Christian faith. Indeed, the demise of the great
pastor that he was, his exemplary faith, perseverance in service,
prayerfullness and holiness gave the world the opportunity to encounter the
message of the Gospel anew.
Whether they express it audibly or not, especially all the churches of
apostolic origin, from the East and from the West, despite differences of
doctrinal views, do look to the Holy See of Rome, as the fortress of Holy
Apostolic Tradition.
This is why most of the Christian world welcomes Your Holiness’ election to
the Holy Roman See with expectation and hope for the continuity of the
legacy of your predeccesor in bridge-building between Christian churches and
between religions.
AD MULTOS ANNOS! Your junior and humble brother in Christ,
Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul & All Turkey”
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< LRAPER Church Bulletin 20/04/2005 Armenian Patriarchate TR-34130 Kumkapý, Istanbul Licensee: The Revd. Fr. Drtad Uzunyan Editors: The Revd. Archpriest Krikor Damatyan, The Revd. Deacon Vagarsag Seropyan Press Officer: Attorney Mrs. Luiz Bakar T: +90 (212) 517-0970 F: +90 (212) 516-4833 [email protected] [email protected] <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< --Boundary_(ID_YZTJynVl/dwAHv1sM5iuHQ)-- From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russia’s Karabakh mediator says London talks “fruitful and constructive” – TV
ANS TV, Baku
19 Apr 05
[Presenter] Regular truce violations on the front line and the growing
tension on the contact line have compelled the [OSCE Minsk Group]
co-chairs to make a statement.
[Correspondent] The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ meetings with the
Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers [Elmar Mammadyarov
and Vardan Oskanyan] in London [on 15 April] were fruitful and
constructive, Russian co-chairman Yuriy Merzlyakov has said.
[Merzlyakov by phone, in Russian with Azeri voice-over] A very
intensive exchange of ideas is under way and I positively assess the
consultations being carried out at this stage. Everybody had specific
proposals and we discussed them.
[Correspondent] Merzlyakov said apart from a special statement by
the co-chairs on the growing tension on the contact line, a special
representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office, Andrzej Kasprzyk,
raised the issue of three Azerbaijani POWs held in Nagornyy Karabakh.
[Merzlyakov] The issue is under discussion. I hope the issue will be
resolved soon since it has been brought to the attention of the sides.
[Correspondent] Merzlyakov spoke about the reasons for separate
meetings held with the foreign ministers at the co-chairs’ request.
[Merzlyakov] This was a preparation for an important event, a meeting
between the presidents, that will happen soon. We want to have a
broad exchange of ideas with the sides before that meeting.
[Correspondent] The Russian co-chair said Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan will not participate in the next meeting to be held
in Frankfurt on 27 April. The meeting with Elmar Mammadyarov in
Frankfurt has been set for 27 April because he cannot make it other
time, he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Agence France Presse
19 avril 2005 mardi 8:35 AM GMT
Armenians of Jerusalem indignant at Israel’s position over the
Genocide
Les Arméniens à Jérusalem indignés par la position d’Israël sur
“leur” génocide (DOSSIER – REPORTAGE)
JERUSALEM 19 avril
Elle a connu les conquêtes islamiques, les croisades, l’empire
ottoman, le mandat britannique, la tutelle jordanienne et enfin
l’occupation israélienne mais la petite communauté arménienne de
Jérusalem a su préserver son identité.
Présente en Terre sainte depuis le Vème siècle, cette communauté,
composée en grande partie de descendants des rescapés des massacres
des Arméniens aux mains des Turcs de 1915, est indignée par le refus
d’Israël, un Etat dont l’identité tient en grande partie à la Shoah,
de reconnaître son “génocide”.
Quelque 2.000 Arméniens vivent dans le quartier arménien et son
célèbre monastère qui occupent un sixième de la vielle ville de
Jérusalem, un millier en Cisjordanie et 2.000 autres en Israël,
indique à l’AFP l’historien arménien George Hintlian.
“Vis-à-vis d’Israël et sa bureaucratie nous sommes comme les
Palestiniens. Nous nous considérons comme des Jérusalémites nés en
Palestine”, explique M. Hintlian, en déambulant dans la rue du
Patriarcat arménien orthodoxe qui longe le quartier arménien.
Il fait nuit. La très courue Taverne arménienne sert des lahmajoun,
une pâte fine avec de la viande hachée, à ses derniers clients. Des
voitures israéliennes roulent lentement dans l’étroite rue en se
dirigeant vers le quartier juif voisin ou vers le Mur des
Lamentations.
A l’entrée du monastère, un groupe de jeunes devisent en arménien.
Cet ancien hospice devenu couvent puis résidence pour des centaines
d’Arméniens n’est accessible qu’aux habitants, aux visiteurs invités
et aux groupes de touristes organisés.
Les Arméniens à Jérusalem, comme ailleurs dans le monde, estiment que
leur quête d’obenir une reconnaissance mondiale de leur génocide à
pâti de l’alliance stratégique nouée entre Israël et la Turquie en
1996.
“La plus grave conséquence de l’alliance entre Israël et la Turquie
est le fait que l’ambassade israélienne à Washington et le lobby juif
sont ouvertement intervenus à deux reprises en 1999 et 2001 pour
empêcher une reconnaissance du génocide arménien par le Congrès”, dit
M. Hintlian, qui affirme qu’une vingtaine de membres de sa famille,
dont son grand-père et un oncle, avaient péri dans les massacres.
“Il est difficile de comprendre la position officielle israélienne
sur le génocide arménien, venant d’une nation qui a été victime d’un
génocide au même siècle”, ajoute-il.
Selon lui, la présence du ministre turc de la Justice Cemil Cicek à
la cérémonie d’inauguration d’un nouveau musée de la Shoah à
Jérusalem en mars alors qu’aucun représentant de l’Arménie n’y a été
convié a “choqué” la communauté.
Amer, il montre ce qui reste d’affiches du génocide arménien
placardées dans la rue et déchirées, selon lui, par des passants
juifs. “Parfois, ils écrivent même +gros mensonge+ dessus”, se
plaint-il.
Elise Aghazarian, 26 ans, se dit “arménienne de sang et palestinienne
d’âme”. “Nous sommes attachés au mont Ararat mais aussi à Jérusalem”.
“Je suis pour un Etat bi-national palestinien et israélien mais si
une division est imposée je voudrais être côté palestinien”, dit
cette chercheuse diplômée en sociologie.
Si elle considère le pacte israélo-turc comme “une alliance
d’intérêts”, elle n’en fustige pas moins le refus d’Israël de
reconnaître le génocide arménien. “Cela revient à dire que le sang
juif est plus sacré que celui d’autres peuples”.
Selon M. Hintlian, plus de 30% des Arméniens ont émigré de Terre
sainte depuis 1967. Les restrictions imposées par les autorités
israéliennes à la population palestinienne de Jérusalem-est, occupée
depuis 1967, font partie du quotidien des Arméniens.
“S’il n’y a pas de solution, dans 20 ou 30 ans, notre nombre pourrait
baisser de moitié” dit-il.
Elise, elle, n’envisage pas de partir.”Je ne voudrais pas quitter
même si les conditions de vie difficiles nous mettent sous pression
permanente”, dit-elle.
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
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–Boundary_(ID_CZKtgJ9ZXWJc6dy6y9iz4g)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1plus
| 16:50:33 | 19-04-2005 | Official |
EUROPEANS IMPRESSED WITH ARMENIA’S PROGRESS
Today Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan received director
of Europe Aid’s Mediterranean and Middle East division Richard Weber
and head of the EU Commission in Armenia and Georgia Torben Holtze.
Noting that the gradual integration in European values and structures
is one of the priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy, Andranik
Margaryan expressed satisfaction with the establishment of the
Armenia-EU relationships and the inclusion of the republic in the
EU New Neighborhood policy. He thanked the European Commission for
the technical assistance, what is of the utmost importance for the
implementation of reforms directed to the establishment of market
economy and democracy in the republic.
Richard Weber said he is impressed with Armenia’s progress, in
part with the development of the National Program, the process of
bringing the RA legislation to the EU standards and participation in
regional programs. He also informed that the purpose of the visit is
to discuss the second stage of cooperation with Armenia, what means the
greater technical assistance and elaboration of policy directed to the
development of separate sectors and implementation regional programs.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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 STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH, LOVE AND LIGHT IN PEOPLE’S LIVES
His Holiness Aram I highlighted the importance of faith, love and light in
people’s personal and collective lives, during a special sermon he delivered
in the Church of Athens on April 17.
His Holiness said that faith is the pivot of Christian life and added:
“Through his life Christ showed the true way of believing, the real
understanding of faith and specially its strength. Therefore, being a
Christian means turning faith into life, living faith, working with faith,
because faith is a source for strength and success.”
The Catholicos also spoke about love, saying that the essence of God is
love. He highlighted the importance of love in the lives of Armenians
worldwide.
“Both in Armenia and in our communities, we need love like we need bread and
water. The path to unity is love. The path to greatness is also love. We
should love each other despite our differences, we should unite for
safeguarding the interests of our people homeland,” he said.
The Catholicos also spoke about light, stressing that Christianity is the
only religion that looks to the future. He emphasized the important role of
light in the Armenian Diaspora.
“When Armenia lost its independence the Diaspora Armenians never lost hope;
they lived, dreamed and fought with the Armenian flag for a free,
independent Armenia, which today has become a reality. After the Genocide,
the Armenians didn’t give up; they demanded and will continue to demand
their rights. The 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide is a challenge
to strengthen our Christian light for the sake of implementing the legacy of
our martyrs.
Bishop Khoren Doghramdjian. Prelate of the Prelacy of Greece conducted the
Holy Liturgy, after which the believers kissed the right hand of His
Holiness.
##
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.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Lebanese Prime Minister Forms Cabinet
By Agence France Presse (AFP)
Agence France Presse
April 19 2005
Prime minister-designate Nagib Miqati announced the creation of a new
unity government to take Lebanon towards May elections, breaking over
six weeks of political deadlock.
He said the administration would contain people representing all
of multi-confessional Lebanon’s religious groups and comprised 14
mainly technocratic members, down from 30 ministers in the previous
government.
“I want to announce the formation of the government this morning,
after a meeting with President Emile Lahoud,” Miqati told reporters.
“This government groups all Lebanese factions,” he said.
“A new government has been formed, it is made up of 14 ministers,”
added presidential spokesman Rafiq Shalala.
Here is the line-up of the new 14-member Lebanese cabinet formed
Tuesday by prime minister-designate Nagib Miqati, which still has to
be approved by parliament.
– Prime Minister: Nagib Miqati (Sunni Muslim, new)
– Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense: Elias Murr (Greek
Orthodox, new)
– Foreign Minister: Mahmud Hammud (Shiite, unchanged)
– Interior Minister: Hassan Sabaa (Sunni, new)
– Finance, economy and trade: Demianos Khattar (Maronite, new)
– Culture, Education Minister: Ghassan Salameh (Greek Catholic, new)
– Public Works, Transport and Refugees: Adel Hamiyeh (Druze, new)
– Health, Social Affairs Minister: Mohammad Khalifeh (Shiite,
unchanged)
– Telecommunication, sports and youth minister: Alain Taburian
(Armenian, state minister in previous government)
– Justice Minister: Khaled Qabbani (Sunni, new)
– Industry and Energy Minister: Bassam Yammin (Maronite, new)
– Information, Tourism Minister: Charles Rizk (Maronite, new)
– Environment, Administrative Development: Tareq Mitri (Greek
Orthodox, new)
– Labour, Agriculture Minister: Tarrad Hamadeh (Shiite, new) – AFP

FEDERATION EURO-ARMENIENNE
pour la Justice et la Démocratie
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel: +32 2 732 70 26
Tel/Fax: +32 2 732 70 27
Email : [email protected]
COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
pour diffusion immédiate
19 avril 2005
Contact :Talline Tachdjian
Tel/Fax :+32 2 732 70 27
UNE INSTANCE DU PARLEMENT EUROPEEN HONORE LA MEMOIRE DU GENOCIDE DES
ARMENIENS
— La délégation interparlementaire UE – Arménie a observé une
minute de silence et a lié la reconnaissance du génocide arménien
ainsi que la levée du blocus de l’ Arménie à la demande d’adhésion
de la Turquie.
Strasbourg, France – Mercredi 13 et Jeudi 14 Avril 2005, la
délégation interparlementaire UE – Arménie s’est réunie pour la
septième fois afin de faire le point sur les relations entre l’Union
européenne et l’Arménie dans le cadre de l’accord de partenariat et
de coopération conclu en 1999, et dans la perspective de la nouvelle
politique européenne de voisinage conclue en 2004.
Cette nouvelle réunion, placée sous la coprésidence de Mme
Marie-Anne Isler-Béguin (Verts, France) et de M. Armen Rustamyan
(Parti Socialiste, Arménie) était notamment consacrée à la question
du Karabakh, après la publication du rapport de l’OSCE démontrant
l’absence de colonisation systématique par l’Arménie de la zone
de sécurité.
Dans ce cadre, et à l’occasion du 90ème anniversaire du génocide des
Arméniens, les membres européens et arméniens de la délégation
interparlementaire, ainsi que le représentant de la Commission
européenne, M. Kurt Juul et celui de la présidence luxembourgeoise
de l’Union, M. Ronald Dofing, ont marqué une minute de silence en
la mémoire des 1 500 000 victimes de ce génocide.
En outre, la déclaration et les recommandations issues de cette
réunion « rappellent toutes les résolutions du Parlement européen
sur le génocide arménien et, à l’aube du 90ème anniversaire de cet
événement, appelle les autorités turques à engager un processus
de réconciliation, total et sincère, international et national,
sur cette question ».
La délégation interparlementaire a également lié ce processus
à la candidature turque à l’Union européenne en enjoignant Ankara
« à se conformer à son statut de pays candidat et de prendre les
mesures nécessaires pour établir des relations de bon voisinage,
pour établir des relations diplomatiques avec l’Arménie, en accord
avec les résolutions adoptées par le Parlement européen entre
1987 et 2004, et pour ouvrir la frontière aussi rapidement que
possible ». La délégation a de plus insisté en rappelant que «
la position du Parlement européen sur les relations Arméno-Turques
était reflétée par sa résolution du 15 décembre 2004 ».
« Le rôle des délégations interparlementaires, qui observent de
près les problèmes des pays tiers, est souvent de montrer la voie,
en précurseur, aux autres institutions de l’Union ou à ces pays
tiers. » a déclaré Laurent Leylekian, directeur de la Fédération
Euro-Arménienne.
« Concernant l’Arménie, c’est notamment la délégation parlementaire
qui a insisté pour l’abolition de la peine de mort en Arménie,
ce qui fut fait, et pour l’inclusion de cette république dans la
politique de voisinage, ce qui fut fait également quelques mois
après. Cette minute de silence, ces déclarations réitérées sur le
lien entre la reconnaissance du génocide par la Turquie et sa demande
d’adhésion présagent de la lucidité croissante de l’ensemble des
institutions européennes au regard de cette question existentielle
pour l’Union. La Turquie ne peut plus continuer à dissimuler
sa doctrine négationniste derrière des man~uvres éculées,
destinées à réécrire l’histoire, comme les sempiternelles
commissions d’historiens » a conclu Laurent Leylekian.
#####
–Boundary_(ID_pEqiTtQ68tI+NlnUAJxNHg)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE ILLEGAL TO BE LEGALIZED ONCE MORE
A1plus
| 13:07:49 | 18-04-2005 | Social |
A committee consisting of 17 members has been created on the order of
Yerevan mayor Yervand Zakharyan to decide the status of the illegal
buildings in Yerevan. The mayor is factually discontent with the work
of the Committee as on March 1 12 of the members have been replaced
by others. By the way, among those replaced were the head and the
secretary of the Committee.
According to the information of the previous Committee during 2003=2004
17 thousand applications have been introduced to the municipality
about the illegal buildings.
«As you see, the group has worked in rather tense circumstances»,
this was the appreciation of chief advisor of the mayor, head of the
Committee Grigor Melkumyan about the work of the Committee. According
to him, before the changes the mayor created a group supporting the
Committee, with the help of which the 7500 decisions accumulated
during the last 2 years will be given to those who have been waiting
for the mayor’ decision.
–Boundary_(ID_FYfJLz5U24oMd0fALBpOsQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress