Author: Emil Lazarian

France’s parliament to debate Turkish candidacy for EU
Associated Press Worldstream
October 11, 2004 Monday
PARIS — Under pressure from its own lawmakers, France’s government
said Monday that a parliamentary debate on Turkey’s hopes of joining
the European Union would be held this week.
Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin asked that the National Assembly’s
agenda be amended to allow the debate to take place Thursday afternoon
and evening, the government said in a brief statement.
Lawmakers from President Jacques Chirac’s Union for a Popular Movement
(UMP) and from other parties have been pushing for a debate on Turkey’s
EU aspirations before Dec. 17. That is when EU leaders are to finalize
an initial approval of membership talks.
The government statement did not say that parliament will get to vote
on the issue after its debate – as many lawmakers want.
UMP lawmaker Dominique Paille said Monday that about 100 of the
governing party’s legislators want a vote. The centrist UDF has also
called for a vote.
Chirac, however, indicated Sunday that he is opposed.
France’s constitution empowers presidents to negotiate and ratify
international treaties, and Chirac said a parliamentary consultation
on Turkey must conform “to the spirit and to the letter of our
constitution.”
Chirac’s support of membership talks for Turkey places him at odds
with many lawmakers and French opinion.
Three-quarters of 893 people interviewed for a Louis Harris poll
released Monday said they oppose Turkey joining the bloc, which
currently has 25 member nations. The poll was conducted by telephone
Oct. 8-9. In another poll of 957 people, two-thirds said they want
a referendum on membership talks for Turkey before the Dec. 17 EU
summit. The CSA agency conducted the poll by phone on Oct. 6-7. The
margin error for both was plus or minus 3 percent.
Turkey’s ambassador to France said in an interview published Monday
that his country would have “no problem” joining the EU if it were
Christian and that its Muslim heritage is the real issue behind the
current debate.
“The real motive for this reticence, especially in France, is
religion,” Uluc Ozulker told the daily Le Parisien. “If Turkey were
Christian, there would be no problem. But, voila, we are a Muslim
country.”
Ozulker said Europe “is not a Christian enclave” and Turkey joining
the EU “will not denature Europe” despite its population of some
70 million.
“We share the same democratic values as the 25,” he said, adding that
Turkey is already part of the customs union.
Turkey has carried out some needed reforms such as abolishing the
death penalty and cutting back the power of the military in politics.
Asked if Turkey would recognize the Armenian genocide, the ambassador
said that it has yet to be proven. Armenia accuses Turkey of the
genocide of up to 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1919, when
Armenia was under the Ottoman Empire. Turkey rejects the claim and
says Armenians were killed in civil unrest during the collapse of
the empire.
“It’s up to international and impartial historians to meet and
decide,”Ozulker said. “We will accept the results of their work.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
October 12, 2004
Holy Etchmiadzin Ordains an Unprecedented Nineteen New Priests
Sunday, October 10, was a joyous day in the life of the Armenian
Church. During the celebration of Divine Liturgy, the vast St. Gregory
the Illuminator Mother Cathedral of Yerevan was filled with faithful,
family and friends, as nineteen deacons of the Armenian Church
were anointed and ordained into the Holy Order of Priesthood by
His Grace Bishop Arshak Khatchatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness, Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided during this unprecedented
historic event. This marked the first occasion in memory that so many
faithful sons of the Armenian Church were ordained to the priesthood
at one time. In order to accommodate this large number of ordinates,
the ordination service was moved from the Mother Cathedral of Holy
Etchmiadzin to St. Gregory. Six of the deacons are graduates of the
Gevorkian Theological Seminary, one is a graduate of the St. James
Theological Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and
twelve are the first graduates from the Accelerated Academic Course
for the Priesthood, under the auspices of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin.
The Accelerated Academic Course for the Priesthood was a new
program instituted by His Holiness more than two years ago to select
individuals with higher educations who wished to bring their service
to the Armenian Church and Nation as priests. The Course had strict
and difficult entrance requirements: The candidates must have the
recommendation of their Diocesan Primates, a minimum of a bachelors
degree from an institution of higher learning, and passed the entrance
and subsequent exams, maintaining exemplary grades throughout the two
and a half year program. The main target of the program was to reach
out to the rural villages and settlements that are in dire need of
priests. The first twelve graduates who became priests were among the
most highly educated of the students. Among them are an architect,
a physicist, a composer, a psychologist, an accountant, a historian,
scientists and instructors.
On the evening prior to the ordination, a public examination of the
candidates’ profession of faith was conducted in the Mother Cathedral
of Yerevan. The sponsoring priests testified for the spiritual and
religious training and virtues of the candidates. The candidates
unanimously rejected and anathematized the heretics and schismatics
and vowed to follow the true faith of Jesus Christ, the Apostles
and the Armenian Patriarchs. As a sign of their orthodox faith,
they recited the dogmatic creed of the Armenian Church, written by
St. Gregory of Datev, and vowed to remain faithful to the hierarchy
of the Armenian Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The following morning, during the Divine Liturgy, the candidates
ascended to the Holy Altar of the Cathedral with the recitation of
psalms. Rev. Fr. Vardan Navasardian, assistant to the Grand Sacristan
of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, had organized a team of
deacons to assist their brothers in their vesting. After removing
their stoles from each individual deacon, they were placed back
around the ordinates necks, and turning westward to the faithful,
they raised their hands as a sign of their renunciation from secular
life and devotion to a spiritual one. The ordaining bishop anointed
the foreheads and palms of both hands of each new priest with Holy
Chrism (Muron) and gave them new names. The faithful present awaited
each new name in hushed yet eager anticipation.
Deacon Artur Hovhanissian became Father Aristakes;
Deacon Hovhannes Baghalian became Father Vrtanes;
Deacon Ararat Nurijanian became Father Husik;
Deacon Arman Shahnazarian became Father Nerses;
Deacon Mher Ghahramanian became Father Gyut;
Deacon Arman Simonian became Father Norayr;
Deacon Husik Hayrapetian became Father Babken;
Deacon Hovhannes Vahanian became Father Moushé;
Deacon Gagik Babayan became Father Mashtots;
Deacon Haik Petrosian became Father Ghazar;
Deacon Artur Sargisian became Father Smbat;
Deacon Artur Dravants became Father Matteos;
Deacon Arayik Mkrtchian became Father Manuel;
Deacon Vahan Andreasian became Father Tovmas;
Deacon Karlen Ghazarian became Father Arakel;
Deacon Vladimir Galsdian became Father Yeznik;
Deacon Garnik Arakelian became Father Simeon;
Deacon Hovhannes Sargisian became Father Pavstos;
Deacon Vachagan Babayan became Father Anania;
Following their anointing, His Grace Bishop Arshak presented the
chalice used to prepare Holy Communion to the newly ordained priests,
transferring to them the power and right to celebrate the Divine
Liturgy and distribute the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ to
the faithful. While the kiss of peace was joyfully being distributed
among the thousands of faithful, His Holiness Karekin II led the
procession of bishops, members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin,
and visiting clergy from a number of dioceses, as they ascended
the bema and conveyed their congratulations by kissing the anointed
foreheads and hands of the new priests. In attendance for the service
were Their Eminences Archbishop Datev Sarkissian and Archbishop David
Sahakian of the Mother See; Archbishop Grigoris Buniatian, Primate
of the Armenian Diocese of the Ukraine; Archbishop Mesrob Krikorian,
Pontifical Legate to Central Europe; His Grace Bishop Arakel Karamian,
Primate of the Diocese of Kotayk; Very Rev. Fr. Derenik Davitian,
Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Gegharkunik; Rev. Fr. Archpriest
Yeghishé Sargisian, Dean of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary;
Rev. Fr. Mkrtich Proshian, Dean of the Vaskenian Seminary of Lake
Sevan; members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin; visiting
Armenian priests from the United States and Europe; visiting clergymen
from sister Churches and denominations; deacons and seminarians.
Also in attendance for this special occasion were benefactors of the
Mother See, Mr. and Mrs. Haroutiun Arslanian, from Beirut, Lebanon,
as well as the “Holy Etchmiadzin Ladies Society” of Beirut, Lebanon.
In the afternoon, a banquet was held in honor of the new ordinates
in the Pontifical Residence, hosted by His Holiness the Catholicos
of All Armenians.
Following the traditional 40-day seclusion period of fasting, mediation
and prayer, the new priests will celebrate their inaugural Divine
Liturgies at churches throughout Armenia.
##

STATE LIST OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL MONUMENTS OF YEREVAN APPROVED
YEREVAN, October 11 (Noyan Tapan). The RA government approved the state
list of immovable historical and cultural monuments of Yerevan. Lists
of monuments in two regions should be also specified for the approval
of the full list of immovable monuments in the territory of the
republic. After the approval of the list the work will start on
projecting the zones of monuments protection. According to RA Deputy
Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Gagik Gyurjian, the old list of
historical and cultural monuments of the republic was approved in 1984
and included 33,000 monuments, which are situated in the territory
of 20,000 hectares. According to him, list of monuments approved by
the decision of the Soviet of Ministers of the Armenian SSR doesn’t
correspond to the assessment criteria and methods of elaboration of
information and integration, common requirements of the cadastre. These
monuments will gain a certain status and will be considered not only
as town-planning entities but also will be protected by the law “On
Protection of Monuments” after the specification and approval of the
list in the whole territory of the republic.

German co. signs $70-mln deal to upgrade Rusal’s Yerevan foil mill
Interfax
Oct 11 2004
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Germany’s Achenbach will start upgrading Russian
aluminum giant Rusal’s Armenal foil mill in Yerevan, Armenia, in the
middle of October under a contract worth $70 million signed on Friday.
A spokesman for Armenal told Interfax that a consortium of German
banks led by Bayerische Landesbank, the project’s financial consultant,
would lend $45 million and that Rusal would provide $25 million. German
state insurer Hermes is insuring the credit.
The contract states that the upgrade must start in the middle of
October and will take 18 months to complete. Armenal will achieve
full capacity by the end of the period.
The upgrade will turn Armenal into a fully integrated foil mill with
enhanced product range and increase profit margins. Capacity will
rise to 25,000 tonnes of foil annually.
The first trial consignment of 150 tonnes of foil should be produced
by the end of 2005.
Armenal said it was aiming for a 2.5%-share of the world aluminum
foil market by 2008.
Siemens will partner Achenbach in the upgrade. Orders worth $10
million will be placed with local factories.

ARMENIAN FM AGAINST TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP
ArmenPress
Oct 11 2004
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian disapproved today the European Union’s intention to start
talks on Turkey’s accession process, saying it did not deserve the
membership. Speaking at a joint news conference with the visiting
foreign minister of Norway, Jan Petersen, Oskanian blamed Turkey
for the continued closure of its border with Armenia and a law that
criminalizes mentioning of the Armenian Genocide. Oskanian also
rejected any possibility of Turkey’s involvement in the Karabagh
regulation, proposed lately by a Russian co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk
group, but admitted that Turkey is one of the major regional countries.
Jan Petersen, who is the Council of Europe’s chairman of the Committee
of Ministers, said his government could not express an opinion on
Turkey’s membership since Norway is not an EU member.
Norway’s foreign minister also said his government will continue its
projects in Armenia, singling out the Norwegian Refugee Council’s
project of building houses for refugees. He then said Armenia
and Norway should work hard to raise their relations to a higher
level. He said Norway can help Armenia develop its energy system,
particularly, hydro-power stations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian minister says EU membership talks with Turkey “politically-motivated”
Mediamax news agency
11 Oct 04
Yerevan, 11 October: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in
Yerevan today that the decision of Brussels to give the “green light”
to open membership talks with Turkey is “largely politically-motivated
because Turkey does not fully comply with the requirements set forth”.
Vardan Oskanyan was quoted by Mediamax as saying that Armenia cannot
play a crucial role in the issue of EU admission talks with Turkey
because it is not a member of the European Union itself.
Vardan Oskanyan expressed concern about the fact that Turkey was
considerably behind Romania and Bulgaria which are also in talks with
the EU. The minister also voiced his regret about the fact that the
EU has not given a due assessment of the fact that Turkey is refusing
to open the border with Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Market Wire (press release)
Oct 7 2004
Legendary Casper’s Hot Dogs Chain to Close Flagship Location on
October 22
Historic Bay Area Eatery Closes Doors After Over 60 Years of
Operation
OAKLAND, CA — (MARKET WIRE) — 10/07/2004 — Casper’s Hot Dogs, one
of the Bay Area’s oldest, family-run fast-food chains, has announced
that it plans to close its flagship store in Oakland, California on
October 22nd.
Originally opened in the early 1940s, the Casper’s on 1st Avenue has
been a favorite hang out and eatery for area neighbors. When the
store was moved from its original building to the current location at
1240 1st Avenue in the late ’40s, it quickly became a mainstay for
professional athletes, judges, and rock stars due to the store’s
close proximity to The Oakland Coliseum and the Henry J. Kaiser
Auditorium which is across the street.
“We just don’t see the activity that we used to down in that part of
Oakland,” says Ronald Dorian, one of several third-generation owners
of the Casper’s family and co-General Manager. “But it doesn’t seem
all that long ago that it was a busy location,” he adds.
This closure is particularly sad because of the recent loss of
92-year-old Rose Agajan, the last founding member of the partnership
that started the chain, which included Rose and her husband Paul, and
their partners, Stephen and Ardam Beklian — all immigrants who had
survived the Armenian Genocide.
The Casper’s story began in 1934, when several Armenian families
moved from Chicago to Oakland to sell their hot dogs from stands
along Telegraph Avenue and Fruitvale Boulevard. After gaining a
reputation for serving extra long frankfurters in freshly steamed
buns, a freestanding store was opened on 1st Avenue.
Longtime Casper’s employee Dolores Larkin was hired to work at 1st
Avenue almost 50 years ago and still remembers the prices: “The hot
dogs were only 25 cents, drinks were 10 cents, and chips were 5
cents,” remarks Larkin. She is currently the manager of the Casper’s
Hot Dogs restaurant in Pleasant Hill, located at the corner of Vivian
Dr. and Contra Costa Blvd.
“I still get phone calls at the store from people who have just
landed at Oakland Airport and want directions to the 1st Avenue store
because they’ve heard about our famous hot dogs and want to find out
for themselves if they’re as good as their reputation,” says Paul
Rustigian, another third-generation owner and co-General Manager with
Dorian.
Today, there are 10 Casper’s throughout the Bay Area, including
locations in Oakland, two in Hayward, Dublin, Walnut Creek, Pleasant
Hill, San Pablo, Richmond, and Albany. The “Casper Dog” has become so
popular throughout the years, that they have won many “Best Of”
awards in the Bay Area, including Best Fast Food Restaurant in the
Bay Area from the listeners of KABL radio station.
Oakland’s Mayor Jerry Brown remarks: “Casper’s hot dogs, with their
unique fixings, have been an East Bay fixture for 70 years. We lament
the closing of the 1st Avenue location but are heartened by the fact
that the delicious Casper’s dogs we all know and love are still
available at nine other locations.”
Norman Tuttle, a longtime Oakland lawyer adds: “Whew! We are glad
that only one Casper’s is closing! We discovered Casper’s when we
moved to the East Bay in 1950 and have always thought of them as the
great American hot dog.”
For additional information, interviews and photos, please contact
Caroline Rustigian at (310-399-5525) or [email protected].
About Casper’s Hot Dogs
Casper’s, the award winning hot dogs west of the Rockies, have been a
California favorite since 1934. At the Casper’s restaurants, this
tasty old-fashioned style hot dog is made from a street vendor recipe
and garnished with mustard, relish, freshly cut tomatoes and onions,
and made to your order on a feather-light, steamed bun. Casper’s has
restaurant locations in Oakland, Hayward, Dublin, Walnut Creek,
Pleasant Hill, San Pablo, Richmond and Albany. In 1989, the partners
opened SPAR Sausage Company and began production of their proprietary
hot dog for wholesale distribution, and now deliver the Bay Area
delicacy to club and grocery stores throughout the western region of
the United States. The family expanded their manufacturing facility
in 1997, and SPAR is now housed at 688 William Street in San Leandro
()
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
Oct 8 2004
ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN COMMENTS ON AZERI PRESIDENT’S
INTERVIEW
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, ARMENPRESS: Armenpress news agency asked
Hamlet Gasparian, a foreign ministry spokesman, to comment on a
recent interview by Azeri president Ilham Aliyev to Reuters, in which
he again complained of the international community’s reluctance to
curb Armenian “aggression,” warning also that “Azerbaijan will not go
for compromise and that Nagorno Karabagh will never be independent.”
Gasparian was asked to share Armenia’s position in the light of the
recently stepped up negotiation processes over Karabagh resolution
and the expectations of the international community.
“Usually the president of Azerbaijan does not save words to praise
his father, Heydar Aliyev’s contributions to the development of
Azerbaijan, calling him “the national leader of Azerbaijani people,
he symbol of Azerbaijan, its independence, dignity and courage,”
Gasparian said.
“I should remind that Aliyev Sen. accepted arrangements, reached
in Paris and Key West, which his son is now rejecting by brandishing
his sword. I should also like to remind that today, when Azerbaijanis
keep on calling Armenia “aggressor,” they should remember the
1991-93, when they launched a large-scale offensive along the entire
front line, nearing Stepanakert and neighboring areas that were under
constant fire day and night and only due to the courage and heroism
of Karabagh people they were pushed back. Today Azeris are reaping
the fruits of the military aggression they themselves unbridled,
becoming the captives of their own policy towards Nagorno Karabagh,”
he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
October 9, 2004 Saturday 11:42 AM Eastern Time
Ukraine has the largest GDP in CIS countries
By Valery Rzhevsky
KIEV, October 9
Ukraine has the largest GDP among the CIS countries. “Ukraine’s GDP
grew by 13.6%, the fastest rate among the CIS countries, in
January-August 2004,” says a report of the CIS Committee for
Statistics that was published in Kiev on Saturday.
The economies of Tajikistan, Belarus and Armenia developed at a rate
of 11.7%, 10.7% and 9.6%, respectively. Then come Azerbaijan (9.5%),
Georgia (9.42%), Russia (7.55%), Kirghizia (7.3%) and Moldova
(6.52%).
The GDP in the CIS countries grew at an average rate of 8% in
January-August 2004. Industrial production also grew at 8%. The
growth of retail trade turnover is estimated at 12%, the report says.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Nouvel Economiste
1 octobre 2004
Politique & Économie – La chronique de… Sylvie Pierre-Brossolette
– Derrière la Constitution, la Turquie- La question de l’adhésion de
la Turquie va s’inviter dans le débat pour ou contre la Constitution.
Dangereux téléscopage.
La Turquie va devenir un acteur important du référendum sur l’Europe.
Le sujet a beau être largement tabou, les promoteurs du " oui
" tentant d’escamoter une source de mécontentement dans
l’opinion, il sera forcément dans l’actualité avec la décision de la
commission de Bruxelles qui doit décider le 6 octobre de valider ou
non l’ouverture des négociations avec ce grand voisin à la fois laïc
et musulman. Stupeur et tremblement dans les partis : l’affaire de
l’adhésion de la Turquie peut déterminer le sort de la future
Constitution. Si un feu vert est donné à Ankara, la campagne risque
de se focaliser sur l’enjeu de son entrée dans l’Union. Dans des
conditions étranges : le chef de l’Etat est quasiment le seul de son
camp à approuver le projet. Même Jean-Pierre Raffarin, dans une
déclaration maladroite mais frappée au coin du bon sens pour une
grande partie de la population française, s’est interrogé sur
l’opportunité de faire couler le fleuve de l’Islam dans le lit de la
laïcité. Gaffe ou répartition des rôles ? Quels que soient ses
motifs, cette déclaration est symptomatique d’un malaise. La droite –
à l’image de la grande majorité des Français – est hostile à l’entrée
de la Turquie dans le club européen. Le débat provoqué sur ce point
par l’avis supposé – et sans doute réel – de la commission de
Bruxelles n’est que le début de la polémique qui aura indubitablement
lieu si le conseil des chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement des 16 et 17
décembre donne aussi son accord au processus.
Les partisans du non n’auront qu’à se baisser pour ramasser les
bulletins quelques mois plus tard. Jacques Chirac en est conscient
tout en ne voulant pas en démordre : la Turquie serait mieux à
l’intérieur qu’à l’extérieur de l’Union. Tant pis si les Etats-Unis
sont du même avis, avec pour objectif à peine voilé de dynamiter
toute possibilité d’élaborer une politique européenne cohérente. Le
Président français pense qu’il vaut mieux intégrer à tout prix un
pays qui doit servir d’exemple à ses voisins islamiques. Le rejeter
maintenant serait un camouflet contre-productif à la cause de la
laïcité et de la paix. La plupart des partis politiques de l’Hexagone
ne sont pas sur cette ligne. Aucun à droite n’est prêt à prendre le
pari de l’intégration d’une nation qui, hier encore, était prête à
voter la criminalisation de l’adultère. A gauche, les avis sont plus
partagés. Officiellement, le Parti socialiste est plutôt favorable à
l’entrée de la Turquie, mais il y met des conditions – comme la
demande de reconnaissance du génocide arménien – auxquelles les Turcs
refusent de se soumettre. Et son électorat est plus que rétif.
Curieusement, personne n’ose parler ouvertement de la question, de
peur de polluer le référendum avec une problématique délétère. On se
demande pourquoi les dirigeants sont tellement gênés : il serait très
facile de défendre l’idée que la Turquie n’est toujours pas prête. Le
chef de l’Etat, en particulier, pourrait utilement déclarer en
décembre qu’il réserve encore son opinion. Une manière pour lui
d’assurer l’issue du référendum. Tout en ménageant l’avenir.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress