Author: Harutyunian Christine

EurActive.com
Published: Thursday 3 March 2005 – 08:50

Ferrero-Waldner: 2005 will be “year of delivery” for Neighbourhood Policy

In Short:

Under the European Neighbourhood Policy process, the Commission has
recommended an intensification of relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt,
Georgia and Lebanon.

RELATED

The EU’s new neighbours
Background:

The EU has already negotiated action plans with Israel, Jordan, Moldova,
Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Ukraine. On 2 March, the
Commission adopted country reports on five more countries: Egypt, Lebanon
and the Southern Caucasus countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Based on these reports, the Commission has recommended an intensification of
relations.

The new country reports analyse and evaluate the political, economic and
institutional reforms in the five countries, opening up the prospect of
concluding action plans with them. The prospective three-year action plans
will detail specific measures and obligations on both sides for increased
co-operation. The five states are expected to have their action plans in
place by the end of 2005.

The EU’s Neighbourhood Policy is directed at a ring of countries. To date,
Israel, Jordan and Ukraine have signed their respective action plans, with
Morocco, Moldova, the Palestinian Authority and Tunisia set to follow suit.

Issues:

Azerbaijan:

The Commission is recommending a “significant intensification of relations”
with Azerbaijan. The country was included in the ENP process in June 2004,
based on an existing Partnership and Co-operation Agreement. The key
objectives for an action plan include:

strengthening the rule of law, democratic structures and pluralism
effective reforms of the judiciary and the law enforcement agencies
enhanced protection of human rights and press freedom
balanced economic development

Armenia:

Armenia, along with the two other Caucasus states, was taken on board in
June 2004 largely as a result of the “Rose Revolution” that took place in
Georgia in November 2003. The key objectives for an action plan include:

strengthening the rule of law, democratic structures and pluralism
strengthening respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms
enhanced economic development
effective reform of the systems of taxation and customs
increased fight against corruption and fraud
effective reduction of poverty
Georgia:

Georgia is seen by the EU as the most advanced nation in the region. It
hosts the only full Commission mission. A member of the ENP process since
June 2004, Georgia’s prospective action plan should aim to:

strengthen respect for the rule of law
enhance protection of human rights
strengthen democratic structures and pluralism
improve the business climate
reform the systems of taxation and customs
improve the transparency of the privatisation process
Egypt:

The EU already has an Association Agreement with Egypt. The ENP goes beyond
that agreement by offering the prospect of an “increasingly close
relationship” with the EU, “involving a significant degree of economic
integration and a deepening of political co-operation”. The key objectives
for an action plan include joint commitments:

for strengthening democracy and the rule of law
in the areas of foreign and security policy
closer economic co-operation
enhanced co-ordination in trade and internal market
Lebanon:

The entry into force of Lebanon’s Association Agreement with the EU is
imminent. The prospective action plan will set out priorities in two broad
areas:

strengthening democracy and the rule of law and enhancing foreign and
security policy co-operation
enhancing co-operation in economic and social development as well as trade
and internal market issues

Positions:

External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said that 2005 will
be “the year of delivery” for the European Neighbourhood Policy. “The
challenge for the EU and for our partners will be to turn the commitments
and aspirations […] into reality, through measurable reforms bringing
concrete benefits for our neighbouring countries and their citizens”.

Commission spokeswoman Françoise Le Bail said that the EU has “already
adopted a certain number of ‘country reports’ and ‘action plans’ for some
countries, we’re therefore now completing this action with the ‘country
reports’ on five countries. And it is on the these ‘country reports’ that
the ‘action plans – containing concrete measures for cooperation between
these countries and the EU – will be based.”

Latest & next steps:

The Neighbourhood Policy does not include a commitment by the EU to take any
of the beneficiary states on board. However, the ENP process could lead to a
near-complete integration in the EU’s single market
The Commission’s recommendations require the Council’s seal of approval
The prospective three-year action plans are expected to be concluded by the
end of 2005

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/02/2005
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1) Rep. Pallone Welcomes Amb. Evans’s Remarks Recognizing the Armenian
Genocide
2) Four Local Charities Get New York Life Settlement Share
3) Armenian-Azeri Talks Further Delayed
4) Parliament Reinstates Central Bank Chair Sargsian

1) Rep. Pallone Welcomes Amb. Evans’s Remarks Recognizing the Armenian
Genocide

–Delivers Powerful Speech on Floor of the US House

WASHINGTON, DC–Speaking on the floor of the US House, Congressional Armenian
Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) tonight welcomed public statements made
last week by US Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans, in which he
properly
described Ottoman Turkey’s systematic massacres of the Armenians between
1915-1923 as “genocide,” reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA). The Ambassador yesterday issued a statement in which he
re-characterized his remarks as his personal views.
In a speech on the House floor, Rep. Pallone shared with his colleagues that
Ambassador Evans, who he noted had studied Russian history at Yale and
Columbia
and Ottoman history at the Kennan Institute, had repeatedly and openly
discussed the Armenian genocide in his public statements during his recently
concluded tour of Armenian American communities. He noted, “Breaking with a
pattern on the part of the State Department of using alternative and evasive
terminology for the Armenian Genocide, Ambassador Evans pointed out that,
and I
quote, ‘No American official has ever denied it.'”
Congressman Pallone added: “Amb. Evans was merely recounting the historical
record, which has been attested to by over 120 Holocaust and genocide scholars
from around the world. In so doing, he was merely giving a name–the accurate
description of “genocide”–to this very Administration’s statements on the
issue. President Bush, on April 24th of each of the last four years, when
commemorating the Armenian Genocide, has used the textbook definition of
genocide–with words and phrases such as ‘annihilation,’ and ‘forced exile and
murder.’ Before him, President Reagan used the word ‘genocide’ in 1981 when
describing the annihilation of over 1.5 million Armenians. In the days of the
Genocide, our US Ambassador, then Henry Morgenthau had the courage to speak
out
against the atrocities, which he stated were a planned and systematic
effort to
annihilate an entire race.”
The New Jersey Congressman closed his remarks by stressing that he wanted to
add his name and voice “to all those who, like Ambassador Evans, know the
truth
and speak plainly when discussing the Armenian Genocide.”
“Armenian Americans, throughout New Jersey and across the nation, welcome
Congressman Pallone’s remarks in support of official US recognition of the
Armenian Genocide and in defense of all those who are working to bring an end
to US complicity in the denial of this crime against all humanity,” said Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “We value Congressman Pallone’s
tireless determination, his years of hard work, and–in response to this
latest
controversy–his clear and principled defense of US officials who will no
longer be deterred from speaking the truth about the crime of genocide.”
Rep. Pallone’s comments came a day after a statement released by Amb. Evans,
expressing concerns about a “misunderstanding” regarding his comments made
at a
series of public Armenian American community outreach events in Boston, New
York, New Jersey, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Fresno, and Washington, DC.
During his presentations in these cities, the Ambassador spoke with a level of
candor on the Armenian genocide. During his public presentation at the
University of California, Berkeley, hosted by Armenian Studies Program
Executive Director, Prof. Stephan Astourian, Evans announced, “I will today
call it the Armenian Genocide.”
The Ambassador argued, “We, the US government, owe you, our fellow citizens a
more frank and honest way of discussing this problem. Today, as someone who’s
studied it…There’s no doubt in my mind what happened.”
In a statement posted on the Embassy’s website yesterday, Amb.
Evans noted that his remarks regarding the Armenian genocide were his private
views and did not reflect a change in official US government policy.

2) Four Local Charities Get New York Life Settlement Share

PASADENA (Combined Sources)–Four local charities received their portion of a
$20-million insurance settlement Monday for heirs of the victims of the
Armenian genocide.
Haigoush Keghinian-Kohler of the Armenian Educational Foundation, Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Chairman Richard Mouseghian of the Armenian Church of the North America
Western
Diocese, and Maro Minassian and Anahid Meymarian of the Armenian Relief
Society
were on hand to receive the checks for more than $333,000 each during a
ceremony in Pasadena on Monday.
New York Life last year agreed to settle the 1999 class-action lawsuit filed
by descendants of victims of the 1915 genocide. They accused the insurance
company of not paying out 2,300 policies purchased by their relatives in the
Ottoman Empire, officials said.
“This is historic because it is the first case of its kind for any money or
resolution of the Armenian genocide,” said Brian S. Kabateck, one of the
attorneys who orchestrated the settlement and whose grandparents survived the
genocide. “And it’s probably the oldest case in US history since its inception
90 years ago.”
The money will benefit only the “poor and needy,” Kabateck said. It cannot be
used for administrative purposes by the organizations. The groups have six
months to determine how to spend the money, he said.
According to the settlement, nine US charities that serve people of Armenian
descent will share $3 million. Individual relatives of victims will receive
the
remaining $17 million.
The 55-year-old Armenian Educational Foundation provides scholarships to
needy
students, funds after-school programs for as many as 1,400 Glendale and
Burbank
children and has helped rebuild schools in Armenia, board member Haigoush
Keghinian-Kohler said. The board will meet this month to decide the best use
for the money, Keghinian-Kohler said.
The settlement will not only benefit the local community, but will also help
the healing process, she said.
“I am a child and grandchild of survivors,” Keghinian-Kohler said.
“Hopefully,
my parents and grandparents will rest in peace, but not completely until
the US
and Turkish governments recognize that the genocide did happen.”
The Armenian Relief Society, with affiliate entities in 24 different
countries
serving the social and educational needs of Armenian communities everywhere,
seeks to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation and bring
humanitarian help to all communities in distress.
Descendants of those who have outstanding New York Life policies must file
their claims by March 16 to receive their share of the settlement. People can
check their eligibility at
On January 27, five Armenian charities received checks for $333,333, also
part
of a $20 million settlement with New York Life Insurance Co. The agreement set
aside at least $11 million for descendants, $3 million for charities, and $2
million for administrative costs.

3) Armenian-Azeri Talks Further Delayed

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–The next round of Armenian-Azeri peace talks has been
postponed by at least one week because of Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian’s
continuing illness, his spokesman clarified on Wednesday.
Oskanian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov were scheduled to
hold a meeting in Prague on Wednesday. News of its postponement was confirmed
by Armenia on Tuesday. Azerbaijani sources said it will likely take place in
Paris later this week.
But an Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Serob Bejanian, said this is now
out of question. “The Mammadyarov-Oskanian meeting has again been postponed
due
to Mr. Oskanian’s health condition,” said Bejanian. “Mr. Oskanian has to
continue his treatment in Yerevan for at least one more week.”
“Precise dates for the meeting will be set afterward,” he added.
Mammadyarov, meanwhile, was due in Prague on Wednesday for talks with Czech
government officials.
Azeri ANS radio quoted him as saying that he has already received a copy of a
report drawn up by a fact-finding OSCE mission that visited
Armenian-controlled
territories of Azerbaijan last month. The OSCE officials were investigating
Azerbaijani allegations about illegal resettlement of Armenians in the
occupied
territories.
Mammadyarov declined to comment on the report, saying that its findings will
not be publicized until March 16. An Azerbaijani diplomat in Vienna on Monday
accused Armenia of illegally sending 23,000 settlers to those lands. “Such
steps of Armenia represent a blatant violation of international humanitarian
law and totally contradict the Geneva conventions,” Parviz Shahbazov told a
news conference.
Shahbazov also accused Bernard Fassier, France’s chief Karabagh negotiator who
accompanied the OSCE team on the trip, of justifying “the result of Armenian
aggression” and diminishing the scale of the settlement campaign.
Fassier had said that, with the exception of the Lachin district providing
for
the shortest overland link between Karabagh and Armenia, Armenians’ migration
into the occupied territories seems to be largely spontaneous and improvised.
“Contrary to what many people thought, there doesn’t seem to be a deliberate,
large-scale plan to settle those areas,” he stressed.

4) Parliament Reinstates Central Bank Chair Sargsian

YEREVAN (ARKA)–Armenia’s National Assembly has voted to reinstate the
chairman
of the Central Bank of Armenia Tigran Sargsian, for a seven-year term.
The closed ballot yielded 86 votes in favor of Sargsian, reelection; only 4
members of parliament opposed.
Sargsian thanked Armenian President Robert Kocharian for putting forward his
candidacy and lawmakers for approving it, and promised to justify the
confidence of the lawmakers in reinstating him for another term.
“I’ll try to strengthen this confidence and hope that cooperation with the
Parliament will bring about a flourishing of the country’s economy,” Sargsian
said. He stressed that Armenia would be facing new challenges and must be
prepared to tackle them.
According to law, the Chair of Armenia’s Central Bank is nominated by the
President for a seven-year term, and must be approved by its National
Assembly.

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Armenian rally condemns US congressman’s move to recognize Xocali massacre

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
28 Feb 05

A prominent Armenian writer has condemned US Congressman Dan Burton’s
recent appeal to the US Congress to recognize the massacre in the
Nagornyy Karabakh town of Xocali in February 1992 as genocide.

Zori Balayan, who was shown on Armenian Public TV addressing a
rally at Yerevan’s Tsitsernakaberd memorial to commemorate pogroms
against Armenians in Azerbaijan in 1988, accused Congressman Burton
of one-sidedness.

“There are issues which cannot be discussed and which are even
dangerous to be discussed and presented in a one-sided manner ignoring
the fundamental principle of jurisprudence – listen to the other side,”
Balayan said.

The writer, who spoke on behalf of the participants in the rally,
said that the US congressman should have also mentioned the killing
of Armenians in the Azerbaijani cities of Sumqayit, Baku and Ganca
in 1988 and 1990. Balayan also compared the Armenian attack on the
Azerbaijani town of Xocali during the Karabakh war with the US strikes
on Afghanistan.

The rally decided to present the statement to the US embassy in
Armenia. After the ceremony the people marched to the US embassy,
the TV report said.

Zaman, Turkey
Feb 26 2005

Ankara Complains about Medzamor Power Plant to EU
By Foreign News Services
Published: Saturday 26, 2005
zaman.com

The Medzamor Nuclear power plant located 16 kilometers from the
Turkish-Armenian border is remarked to pose more of a threat to
Turkey.

Watching the developments closely, Ankara has concerns about a
possible Chernobyl like disaster at any time. The subject has also
been brought to the attention of the European Union (EU).

The “Armenia-1” and “Armeni-2” units in Medzamor, one of the five
most dangerous plants in the world, are reportedly having technical
problems. After these occurrences Ankara forwarded the matter to EU
and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Following that, the EU
once more called on Armenia to “shut down” the plant as it had in the
past. Armenia was not willing to comply with the shut down request,
as the plant provides 30 percent of the countries total energy
requirements. The Armenian capital Yerevan conveyed to Brussels that
it would run the station till 2016. Since the problem could not be
settled, the matter was then forwarded to the IAEA. The Medzamor
plant is built on the Eastern Anatolia Fault Line. The IAEA has also
decided to investigate this aspect of the situation. The activities
of the plant, which were seen as a” potential threat” following the
earthquake in Armenian’s Spitak region, have ceased. However, Armenia
had resumed activities in 1995 reasoning the energy crises following
the collapse of the Soviet Union. Armenia had shut down the Medzamor
plant for four months last year due to a high frequency current
problem in the electric transporting line.

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Feb 24 2005

European Court of Justice receives 769 appeals from Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan forwarded 769 appeals to the European Court of Justice in
2004. 160 of them were rejected, while 357 are being considered and
16 coordinated with Azerbaijani government agencies.

No information is available on the remaining 236 appeals, according
to the head of the Council of Europe (CE) Information Office in Baku
Aytan Shirinova.
She said that Azerbaijan is represented at the Court by one lawyer,
one judge and one state agent, which seriously affects consideration
of the appeals.

Last year, Armenia sent 204 appeals to the Court, of which 43 were
rejected, while 153 are currently under scrutiny, Shirnova added.

MAIN FACTOR HINDERING DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN ARMENIA IS
IMPERFECTNESS OF LEGISLATION

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23. ARMINFO. The main factor hindering development
of tourism in Armenia is imperfectness of the legislation. Executive
Director of the Union of Tourist Operators of Armenia on Entry Tourism
Araik Vardanyan says talking to ARMINFO, Wednesday.

He says that the Union was registered in Dec 2004 and united 12
tourist firms, which has already distinguished them as serious
organizations in the native tourist market. Among them the director
mentioned “Intour,” “Armenian Tavel-M” Armen Tour Travel, “Sputnik,”
“Tatyans Travel,” “Avarayr,” “Menua Tour” Levon Travel and
others. Despite the fact that the Justice Ministry of Armenia has
registered over 4,000 firms allegedly engaged in tourism, some 50
companies are really engaged in the market, that is why the tourist
market has not been formed fully in the country, Vardanyan says. He
says that the official statistics that 260,000 foreign tourists
visited Armenia in 2004 does not correspond to reality as even those
arriving on business tours and employees of embassies, offices of
international organizations and even long-distance drivers from Iran
are calculated. He says that the Union was created just to study the
tourist market of the country, contribute to its development, organize
seminars and conferences on tourism in Yerevan and abroad, Araik
Vardanyan says.

As regards the imperfectness of the legislation in the sphere and in
particular of the law on tourism adopted in 2003 he states that
Armenia lacks 2-3 staff hotels, meanwhile tourists prefer just this
category of hotels. Besides, the country’s interregional roads are in
a poor state, there is lack of even toilets. Air tickets to Armenia
are too expensive, if a trip to Spain costs 600-700 EUR for average
European, a 3-4 daylong tour to Armenia makes up 1,000 EUR. State
mechanisms – taxation and customs services, local self-government
bodies, which receive direct incomes from tourism development, play an
invaluable part in solution of these problems. One should understand
a simple truth – tourist is industry that develops longing many
branches of economy. That is why these issues must be solved at the
level of the government and improvement of legislation, Vardanyan
says.

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:

UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF CATHOLICOS ARAM I

THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES FINALIZED ITS WORK

Meeting in Geneva from 15-23 February 2005 under the leadership of His
Holiness Aram I, the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches
(WCC), the highest executive body of the Council, completed its work. In
addition to 166 voting members, more than 200 observers, consultants and
representatives of ecumenical organizations attended the meeting including
the official representatives of the Vatican.

In addition to the reports of the Moderator of the Central Committee His
Holiness Aram I and the General Secretary Dr. Sam Kobia, the main items
covering the agenda of the this last meeting of the Central Committee before
the Assembly, were: Assembly preparations, discussion of consensus
procedures, report of the Program Committee, contemporary ethical
challenges, ecumenical reconfiguration, plenary on Pacific, financial
matters, and public statements.

In his closing remarks Aram I expressed his deep appreciation to the members
of the Central Committee for their active and responsible participation in
the reflection and action of the Central Committee in the past eight years.
“The sea in which the ecumenical boat is sailing is more stormy today than
ever before. Being ecumenical means having the courage of faith and clear
vision to move together towards the ecumenical goals which binds us together
as one fellowship”, concluded His Holiness.

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities 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.

AZERI ORGANIZATION FOR KARABAKH LIBERATION CALLS TO AWARD ARMENIAN
OFFICER’S MURDERER “FOR COURAGE”

21.02.2005

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Organizations for Karabakh Liberation called the
President, parliament and government to award Azeri serviceman Ramil
Safarov accused of the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margarian.

The statement notes that “Safarov on behalf of all the Azeri people
protested against Armenia’s occupation policy and inactivity of the
international organizations in the Karabakh conflict settlement. Thus
the responsibility of the incident should lie upon the Armenian
party. R. Safarov must become an example of patriotism for the
Azerbaijani youth and we ask to decorate the Azeri officer with the
supreme order of Azerbaijan for the courage he displayed.”

Lawyer Pekmezci Denounces Pamuk

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Feb 18 2005

KAYSERI – Orhan Pekmezci, one of lawyers affiliated with the Kayseri
Bar, denounced famous writer Orhan Pamuk to the Chief Prosecutor’s
Office.

In an interview with the A.A on Friday, Pekmezci said, “Pamuk
formulated baseless allegations against Turkey in an interview with
a Swiss newspaper.”

“I strongly condemn Pamuk who said, ‘no one can talk about these,
but I will tell them. 1 million Armenians and 30 thousand Kurds
were killed in Turkey’. He insulted the Republic of Turkey, Turkish
parliament and government, and military forces with his words. Also,
his statement causes hatred and enmity among people. Therefore,
I denounced him to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office in Kayseri,” he added.

Earlier, Pekmezci applied to the European Court of Human Rights
(ECHR) for annulment of decision of the French parliament recognizing
so-called Armenian genocide.

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

SECOND MEETING OF ORIENTAL ORTHODOX-CATHOLIC DIALOGUE
TAKES PLACE IN ROME

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN CHOLOYAN AND BISHOP NAREG ALEMEZIAN
REPRESENT THE HOLY SEE OF CILICIA

NEW YORK, NY – The second meeting of Catholic and Oriental Orthodox
representatives took place in Rome from January 26 to 29. The
International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between
the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches was under
the co-chairmanship of H.E. Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and H.E. Metropolitan
Amba Bishoy of Damiette, General Secretary of the Holy Synod of the
Coptic Orthodox Church.

Representing the Catholicosate of Cilicia were H.E. Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of America, and H.G. Bishop Nareg Alemezian, Ecumenical Officer
of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Representing the Catholicosate of
All Armenians were: H.E. Archbishop Mesrob K. Krikorian, Pontifical
Legate of Central Europe and H.E. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).

“The meetings were cordial and the papers that were presented were
thoughtful and informative and helpful for mutual understanding,”
said Archbishop Oshagan.

The meetings took place in Rome at the Domus Internationalis Paulus
VI, hosted by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian
Unity. Delegates were present from the Catholic Church and from
the following Oriental Orthodox Churches: Coptic Orthodox Church,
Syrian Orthodox Church, Armenian Apostolic Church (Catholicosate of
All Armenians), Armenian Apostolic Church (Catholicosate of Cilicia),
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church,
and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahido Church.

The members of the Commission were received in audience by His Holiness
Pope John Paul II on Friday, January 28. On behalf of the Commission
Metropolitan Amba Bishoy addressed the Pope conveying the greetings
of the heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches. The Pope responded
with a brief message of welcome and encouragement.

The delegation also visited the recently inaugurated statue of St.
Gregory the Illuminator at St. Peter Basilica at the Vatican. The
18-foot, 26 ton statue of Carrara marble is the work of Khatchik
Kazandjian of Paris. St. Gregory, the patron saint of the Armenian
Church, holds in his right hand the Armenian Holy Cross of gilt bronze,
and in his left hand the Holy Bible decorated with the symbols of
the four Evangelists.

As agreed at the first meeting of the International Joint Commission
in Cairo in January 2004, the principal themes were: a) Understanding
of Communion, Constitutive Elements of Communion; b) Particular and
Universal Communion, Meaning of Sister Churches and of Church Families;
c) Full Communion and Degrees of Communion, Common Ecumenical Goal.

The next meeting of the International Joint Commission will be hosted
by the Catholicosate of All Armenians at Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenia,
January 25 to January 31, 2006.