Author: Emil Lazarian

RELATIONS WITH US, CHINA AND EU ARE PRIORITIES FOR ARMENIA
YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS: When defining priorities for
Armenian foreign policy we take into considerations the processes that
take place inthe world, Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian said
Wednesday. Among such processes are NATO enlargement, which brings
about a new situation and a new mentality. The next process is the
enlargement of the European Union. The third relates to the USA
project of the Greater Middle East, which is not as clear as are the
cases of NATO and EU but it is also an issue of great importance.
According to Oskanian, USA, China and EU have interests in the
region and defining relations with them are priorities for Armenian
foreign policy.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Communications Officer
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
April 15, 2004
___________________
Week of April 9 to April 15, 2004
* * *
ARMENIANS GATHER AT CATHEDRAL FOR EASTER
More than 1,500 Armenians from around New England gathered at St. Vartan
Cathedral for Easter services last Sunday (4/10). The celebration was
covered by a number of local and international print and broadcast
journalists. To see photos and read about Easter and Holy Week services at
the cathedral — and to see photos from Easter at the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin — click to the Eastern Diocese’s website:
;selmonth=4&selyear=
2004
(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/14/04)
* * *
HOLY FIRE CEREMONY CONDUCTED IN HOLY LAND
Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical officer of the Easter Diocese,
represented the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the traditional Easter
Eve Holy Fire Ceremony last Saturday (4/10) in Jerusalem at the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher. Bishop Aykazian was the torchbearer, and accompanied
the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Irenios I into the Holy Tomb, where each lit
his bundle of candles from the oil lamp placed on Christ’s tomb.
The two then proceeded towards windows in the chapel of the Angel, through
which they passed candles out to the faithful from the Armenian, Greek,
Coptic, and Syrian Orthodox Churches.
(Source: Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, 4/12/04)
* * *
PRIMATE TRAVELING TO CLEVELAND THIS WEEKEND
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, will be in
Cleveland, OH, this weekend, paying a pastoral visit to the St. Gregory of
Narek community. The Divine Liturgy on Sunday (4/18) will be followed by a
celebration of the parish’s 40th anniversary. The parish is located at 678
Richmond Rd. in Richmond Heights, OH.
(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/15/04)
* * *
NEW PRIEST TO BE ORDAINED NEXT WEEKEND IN NEW YORK CITY
Next weekend (4/24-25), Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, will ordain Dn. Aren Jebejian as a priest. Dn. Jebejian, the
deacon-in-charge of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Chicago, IL, will
be ordained during two days of celebration at New York City’s St. Vartan
Cathedral. The events are open to the public. For more information, click
to the Eastern Diocese’s website:
;selmonth=4&selyear=
2004
(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/8/04)
* * *
REMEMBERING THE GENOCIDE
Next Saturday (4/24), Armenians around the world will commemorate the 89th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Turks. On
Saturday (4/24), New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral will hold a special
Martyrs Day Divine Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. followed by a requiem service at
noon. A large public commemoration will take place in New York City’s Times
Square at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 25, 2004. Other remembrances will occur
throughout the Eastern Diocese. For more information, call your local
parish and click to the Eastern Diocese’s website Calendar of Events:
(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/14/04)
* * *
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GENOCIDE
The Diocese’s St. Vartan Bookstore has a variety of resources to help you
and your family learn more about the Armenian Genocide. From academic
essays to books for children to Hollywood movies, you can find what you need
on the bookstore’s website,
For a list of recommended reading on the Genocide, click here:
;selmonth=4&selyear=
2004
(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/15/04)
* * *
TURKISH AUTHOR TO SPEAK AT DIOCESAN CENTER TONIGHT
The Diocese’s Zohrab Information Center and the Tekeyan Cultural Association
will host author Kemal Yalcin today (4/15). The Turkish writer’s bold new
book, “You Rejoice My Heart,” is based on interviews with survivors of the
Armenian Genocide. A free reception will follow the discussion of his
courageous book, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Diocesan Center, 630
Second Ave. at 34th St. in New York City.
During the evening, Mr. Yalcin will sign copies of his new book. Also, a
limited supply is available from the St. Vartan Bookstore and can be shipped
to you signed. To buy your copy today and learn more about his book, click
to:
(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/15/04)
* * *
RETREAT FOR 13-17 YEAR OLDS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
The Eastern Diocese’s Youth Ministry Program will hold a retreat this
weekend for New England’s ACYOA Jrs. — kids ranging from 13 to 17 years
old. The retreat — led by Yn. Arpi Kouzouian, coordinator of youth
outreach for the Eastern Diocese — will be in Contocook, NH, and will focus
on the idea of stewardship. The young Armenians will examine the gifts God
gave them, and how those gifts can be used in service to the church
community. For information on this retreat or to organize one in your area,
e-mail Yn. Kouzouian at [email protected].
(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/14/04)
* * *
APPLY TO SUMMER CAMP TODAY
Spaces are going fast at the Diocese’s St. Vartan and Hye Camps. To save
your child’s space today, click here:
(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/15/04)
* * *
TRAVEL TO ARMENIA THIS YEAR
Traveling to Armenia strengthens your faith and dedication. If you haven’t
gone yet, there are five opportunities this year.
In June:
* Young Professionals Trip — June 12 to 26 / $2,250. Specifically designed
for travelers between the ages of 23 and 40, this trip offers a chance to
see the sights of Armenia and build life-long friendships with other
Armenian American professionals. Call the Fund for Armenian Relief (212)
889-5150.
* Diocesan Pilgrimage to Historic Armenia and the Republic of Armenia —
June 17 to July 7 / $3,450. Travel to Istanbul, historic Armenian locations
in modern day Turkey such as Musa Dagh, Cappadocia, Mt. Ararat, and Ani.
Continue to Armenia to tour important historical and cultural sites. For
more information call Armen Aroyan (626) 359-9510.
* Armenia Service Program (ASP) — June 22 to July 15 / $1,980. A unique
opportunity for Armenians between the ages of 18 and 28, to help run a
summer camp in the village of Yeghegnadzor before touring throughout
Armenia. Call Nancy Basmajian (212) 686-0710.
In September:
* Women’s Guild Pilgrimage to Armenia — September 16 to 27 / $2,400. Tour
Etchmiadzin, Yerevan, ancient holy sites, and current cultural activities.
For more information call Ann Devejian (203) 838-5758.
* Pilgrimage to Armenia — September 18 to October 3 / $2,350. A
Diocesan-sponsored trip to all the highlights of Armenia. For more
information call Sidon Travel at (818) 553-0777.
To get more information on any of these travel opportunities, e-mail
[email protected].
And don’t forget — you can also help fund the trip of a young person in
your parish, who will return more eager to be involved in parish life.
(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/15/04)
# # #
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN YOUTH FEDERATION
YOUTH ORGANIZATION OF THE ARF-EASTERN USA-CENTRAL
EXECUTIVE
80 Bigelow Ave., Watertown, MA 02472
617-923-1933T
617-924-1933F
PRESS RELEASE
April 15, 2004
Contact: Armen Garabedian
201.755.9378; [email protected]
AYF TO HOST YOUTH SUMMIT ON GENOCIDE PREVENTION AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Former U.S. War Crimes Ambassador David Scheffer Among List of Notable
Speakers
Washington, DC- On the 89th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the
AYF-YOARF Eastern USA Central Hai Tahd Committee will be hosting a
`Youth Summit on Genocide Prevention,’ bringing together community
members and youth of different backgrounds to remember past atrocities
and discuss mechanisms – international and local – to avert future
crimes against humanity. The event will take place on April 24th,
from 1:00-4:00pm at the Georgetown University McNeir Auditorium.
The summit will feature a presentation by Dr. David Scheffer, the
former U.S. Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues (1997-2001).
Dr. Scheffer led U.S. support for international and hybrid criminal
tribunals and headed the U.S. delegation to U.N. talks on the
International Criminal Court until 2001. He also led the Atrocities
Prevention Inter-Agency Working Group. He is currently a visiting
professor of international law at Georgetown University Law Center,
where he teaches public international law, international institutions
law, and atrocity law.
Joining Scheffer is Richard O’Brien, founder of Improve the World
International and the Center for the Prevention of Genocide. The
Center monitors and studies precursors of genocide present around the
world. Mr. O’Brien has lectured at the university level on genocide
and genocide prevention. He holds an MA with a concentration in
Public Policy from Georgetown University.
The panel is rounded out with the participation of Richard Giragosian,
a Washington based analyst specializing in international relations
with a focus on security, politics and economics. He is a frequent
commentator on events in the Caucasus, Russia and Central Asia for
Radio Free Europe and Jane’s.
The `Youth Summit on Genocide Prevention’ is open to youth and people
of all ages committed to stopping genocide worldwide. The event is set
to coincide with the 89th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
commemorated worldwide on April 24th each year. During the years of
1915-1923, over 1.5 million Armenians were killed in a centrally
planned and systematically executed campaign of genocide perpetrated
by the Ottoman Turkish Government. The tragedy is widely viewed as
the first genocide of the 20th century, the ongoing denial of which
has opened the door to similar atrocities including the Holocaust the
Cambodian and Rwandan genocides.
The youth summit is one of a series of local events coordinated by the
Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of Greater Washington DC, a
coalition of local Armenian American organizations formed under the
auspices of the Soorp Khatch Armenian Church. The following is a
schedule of local events that will be taking place to mark the 89th
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the upcoming weeks.
** Friday, April 16th, 8:00pm – Armenian Genocide Madagh and
Commemorative Program, organized by the Greater Washington Homenetmen
Chapter. Soorp Khatch Church Community, 4906 Flint Drive, Bethesda
MD.
** Friday, April 23rd 3:30PM-6: 30PM – `We will Always Remember’:
Armenian Genocide Demonstration in front of the Turkish Ambassadors
Residence Sheridan Circle (at 23rd and Massachusetts Avenue, NW)
** Friday, April 23rd 6: 30PM – A wreath-laying ceremony and prayer
organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia. Embassy of the
Republic of Armenia, 2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC
** Saturday, April 24th 1:00PM-4:00PM – `Youth Summit for Genocide
Prevention’, McNeir Auditorium, Georgetown University.
** Saturday, April 24th at 7:30PM – Genocide Commemoration program at
Sourp Khatch Armenian Community Center, 4906 Flint Drive, Bethesda,
MD.
** Sunday, April 25th at 10:30 AM Genocide Requiem Service and
Madagh. Soorp Khatch Church, 4906 Flint Drive, Bethesda, MD.
** Wednesday, April 28th 5:30 PM – 10th Annual Armenian Genocide
Observance on Capitol Hill, sponsored by the Armenian National
Committee of America. Cannon House Office Building, Cannon Caucus
Room (435). For more information, contact the ANCA at (202) 775-1918.
For those attending the commemorative programs from outside the
Greater Washington, DC area, hotel accommodations have been made at
the Marriott Crystal Gateway, 1700 Jefferson Davis, Hwy, Arlington, VA
22202. For information or reservations, please contact: Arsineh
Khachikian at 202.775.1918.
#####
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

15.04.2004 09:41:00 GMT
Armenian FM criticizes U.S. position on latest Yerevan events
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian has
criticized the U.S. Department of State’s report addressing the latest
developments in Yerevan.
In its report, the U.S. Department of State expressed concern over the
situation in Armenia and called on the country’s authorities and opposition
to hold negotiations to resolve the problem.
“The United States has forgotten to condemn the opposition’s calls for a
coup in the republic. If not for this failure, I myself would have signed
off on the U.S. Department of State’s report. At the same time, it is these
opposition calls that can be viewed as the underlying reason for what has
been happening in Armenia over the past few days,” Oskanian told a
roundtable session in Yerevan on Wednesday.
Tensions are running high today between Armenia’s authorities and
opposition, which is demanding that President Robert Kocharian resign.
Earlier, the opposition started to boycott parliamentary sessions, calling
for a referendum to assess the population’s trust in the authorities, and
staged a series of rallies. On the night on April 13, police broke up an
opposition rally outside the presidential residence, and all unauthorized
large-scale assemblies have been banned in Yerevan.
Oskanian blamed “both the opposition and the republic’s authorities for what
has happened.”
“We have already reached a certain level of the country’s democratic
development, but the biggest challenge – to make democratic processes in
Armenia irreversible – still lies ahead. And, we need the opposition’s
constructive assistance to succeed in this task,” the foreign minister said.
He expressed hope that “Armenia will manage to prove to the international
community that the political situation in the republic is still stable.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian foreign minister, Chinese official discuss ties
Arminfo
13 Apr 04

YEREVAN
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan today met the assistant
foreign minister of the People’s Republic of China, Li Hui. Arminfo
news agency has already reported that Li Hui has passed Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan an invitation from Chinese President Hu
Jintao to pay an official visit to China. Vardan Oskanyan expressed
the hope that the forthcoming visit of the Armenian head of state to
the People’s Republic of China would promote the development of
bilateral relations. The sides highly rated the current level of
Armenian-Chinese relations, pointing out that the deepening of
political relations will help raise economic, cultural and business
relations between the two states to a higher level.
The assistant foreign minister of the People’s Republic of China, Li
Hui, also met his Armenian counterpart Tatul Markaryan. During the
meeting, the sides discussed ways of developing Armenian-Chinese
relations, as well as issues of cooperation within the framework of
international organizations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 20:15:46 | 14-04-2004 | Politics |
MEETING TO TAKE PLACE IN FREEDOM SQUARE TOMORROW
About 70 representatives of defense, youth, students’ and other social
organizations have made a statement over holding a meeting tomorrow at 6:00
PM. Despite the fact that policemen don’t allow even 10-15 people now to
gather in the Freedom Square, the organizers of tomorrow’ meeting are
resolute. They are ready to prove to the Authorities that the country
belongs to people, laws must be prior in Armenia and Authorities have no
right to forbid the rallies. {BR}
Representatives of the organizations are sure that it is time to act instead
of making useless statements criticizing behavior of Authorities.
“The events on April 13 night proved that our country has become a police
state and the independent Armenia was distinguished by political prisoners”,
Avetiq Ishkhanyan, Chair of Helsinki Committee of Armenia, announced during
discussions held by the social organizations.
He informed that together with some organizations they had established a
prompt response group on human rights protection, which will be occupied
with releasing people arrested during rallies. “Many of the relatives of
those arrested don’t even know where their kinsmen are. Many people with
bodily injuries don’t apply to hospitals for fear. Many people are just
lost”.

Newsday
Armenians Protest Near Presidential Palace
By AVET DEMOURIAN
Associated Press Writer
April 13, 2004, 9:15 PM EDT
YEREVAN, Armenia — Police broke up a protest of some 2,000 people outside
Armenia’s presidential palace on Tuesday, the latest in a series of
demonstrations over last year’s presidential election.
Opposition leaders vowed to keep up their public protests against President
Robert Kocharian, whose re-election a year ago spurred opposition charges of
widespread ballot violations.
“The fight against the unlawful regime will be kept up,” said an opposition
leader, Vazgen Manoukian.
Organizers said several demonstrators were injured, but their condition was
not known.
In Washington, the State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the
United States is concerned about the sharp escalation in the confrontation
between the government and the opposition.
“We call on both sides to enter into a dialogue that will lessen tension and
focus the political process on the challenges of continued political and
economic reform,” Boucher said.
He said physical assaults, raids on political party offices and widespread
arrests and detentions of opposition activists by the police “do not
contribute to creating an atmosphere conducive to political dialogue.”
Boucher added.
Kocharian considers the protests “an act of political extremism,” according
to his spokesman Ashot Kocharian.
Last April, Armenia’s Constitutional Court confirmed the results of the
presidential vote but suggested that a referendum be held within a year to
gauge the public’s confidence.
Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Glendale News Press
April 14, 2004
Local Armenians take part in protest
Rallies against the incumbent Armenian president planned at consulate
Thursday in Beverly Hills.
By Ryan Carter, Glendale News-Press
GLENDALE – Local Armenians will join protests against Armenia’s
president Thursday with rallies at the offices of the Consulate
General of Armenia.
In recent weeks, protests have been building inside and outside of
Yerevan, the Armenian capital, with a vocal opposition decrying the
presidency of Robert Kocharyan, who was reelected last year to a
five-year term under a cloud of charges including voter fraud and
ballot stuffing.
In recent days, thousands of protesters have reportedly taken to the
streets, marching on government buildings in Yerevan. They reportedly
had violent clashes with police as recently as Tuesday, reports
said. Several injuries – to activists and journalists – have been
reported.
As the news comes in, Armenians in Glendale and Burbank – among the
most densely populated areas of people of Armenian descent outside of
Armenia – are beginning to mobilize and join the protests from afar.
Harry Sarafian, a Burbank resident and co-chairman of the Coalition
for a Democratic Armenia, spent Tuesday trying to organize a protest
tentatively set for 1 p.m. Thursday at the Consulate General of
Armenia in Beverly Hills. Local Armenians have sent letters about the
issue to local and national representatives, he said.
“The overall feeling is that we are drifting away from democracy,”
Sarafian said. “We had it in the 1990s, but now you could call this a
dictatorship, and the middle class is being eradicated.”
At the heart of the protest is what many have called an illegitimate
presidential election last year, and an unfulfilled promise from an
ensuing Armenian high court decision that a referendum on the
president would be held this year, Sarafian said. That referendum has
not come.
Kocharyan won the disputed March 2003 election in Armenia. But votes
from citizens outside the country were overwhelmingly for challenger
Stepan Demirchyan. In Los Angeles County, for instance, 3,256
Armenians voted for Demirchyan, while the incumbent garnered 285,
according to the Consulate General’s Office.
Sarafian said protesters are demanding that the Armenian parliament
either establish a referendum or that the president resign.
“It’s finally come to a head,” said Peter Darakjian, director of the
Armenian Council of America. “From the election more than a year ago,
it’s been on a daily basis that people feel that [Kocharyan] was put
there unjustly, and that the constitutional court approved the
election unjustly.”
Darakjian lamented that outside of Yerevan, Armenia has not seen
economic reforms or improvements in public infrastructures, after
years of hope in the wake of the country’s independence in 1991.
But not all wholeheartedly agree that the country has stagnated during
Kocharyan’s regime.
“The country has come a long way,” said Pierre Chraghchian, president
of the Glendale chapter of the Armenian National Committee. “If we
compare today to four years ago, nobody can question whether the
standard has improved. Any government should be questioned all of the
time, but the ANC would differ in the approach being taken right now.”
The ANC was founded by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, which is
backing Kocharyan. But the ANC officially is not a political arm, so
it has taken no position on the political situation in Armenia, said
Ardashes Kassakhian, executive director of the ANC’s western
region. He added that any violence is deplorable.
The U.S. State Department has reportedly criticized Yerevan
authorities for their crackdown on demonstrators. Authorities used
water cannons and blank grenades to disperse about 3,000 demonstrators
on Yerevan’s main thoroughfare early Tuesday, according to Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian foreign minister tells Azeri counterpart not to make hasty
statements
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
14 Apr 04

[Presenter] The Armenian foreign minister [Vardan Oskanyan] will meet
his newly-appointed Azerbaijani colleague [Elmar Mammadyarov] in
Prague in a few days time. The meeting between Vardan Oskanyan and
Elmar Mammadyarov will take place on 16 April in keeping with the OSCE
Minsk Group cochairmen’s agreement. Vardan Oskanyan announced that it
is wrong to make statements now which is something that his
Azerbaijani colleague has been doing.
[Vardan Oskanyan, captioned] It hurts that the Azerbaijani foreign
minister keeps talking about Azerbaijan’s position ahead of a meeting
in Prague. This kind of tactics was tried by others before. It is
useless. It will only complicate Azerbaijan’s position.
They should understand that current international tendencies differ
from the positions declared by Azerbaijan. This will only complicate
things and create serious political problems. Statements should only
be made after the meeting.
I do not think that the Azerbaijani side should have done that.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian deputy speaker says room remains for dialogue with opposition
Mediamax news agency
13 Apr 04
YEREVAN
Armenian Deputy Speaker Vahan Ovanesyan said today that there is still
room for dialogue with opposition leaders.
According to Mediamax news agency, Ovanesyan told journalists today
that yesterday’s events, particularly the dispersal of the opposition
rally in central Yerevan, were the consequence of the fact that “the
opposition has overestimated its own capabilities and made maximalist
demands”.
Ovanesyan recalled that representatives of the ruling coalition,
particularly the [Armenian Revolutionary Federation] Dashnaktsutyun,
had recently kept suggesting to the opposition that they begin
dialogue.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress