Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA WELCOMES SEN. BROWNBACK’S SUPPORT FOR
U.S. RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE.

— Following Remarks during Live C-SPAN Call-in Program,
Kansas Senator Calls on President Bush to Properly
Commemorate the First Genocide of the 20th Century

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), an influential member
of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a leading proponent of
U.S. action to stop the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, has
called on President Bush to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide
as a “genocide” in his April 24th comments, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).

In the years since his election in 1996, Senator Brownback has not
traditionally supported Armenian Genocide recognition initiatives
or other issues of special concern to Armenian Americans. He came
to prominence in the Armenian American community in the 1990s as
the leading opponent of Section 907, a provision of U.S. law that
restricts aid to Azerbaijan due to its illegal blockades of Armenia
and Nagorno Karabagh.

Answering questions last week on C-SPAN’s Morning Journal, a popular
cable television call-in program about the Darfur Genocide, the
Senator responded to a question from Armenian National Committee
-Fresno activist Richard Sanikian about his opposition to legislation
about the Armenian Genocide. Specifically, Sanikian noted that we
was “very curious why, for a number of years, [Senator Brownback]
has always opposed Armenian Genocide [recognition] year after year.”
He noted that the Senator’s conduct was “very disturbing” and expressed
his “hope he has a change of heart and since he is talking about
morality and humanitarian issues now I hope that this coming April
24 he moves into that direction because we have a lot of Armenians
Americans in the United States – we’re tax payers – we work hard in
this country and we want our senators… and we want you to join the
rest of the senators and move this issue forward.”

In his response, Senator Brownback said that he “appreciate[d] the
question,” and clarified that, “I do not oppose a recognition of the
Armenian Genocide that took place.” He added that past genocides
“should be recognized for what they are. . . when people are killed
in mass numbers and tried to be wiped out and many were killed in
what took place. . . I am not opposed whatsoever to recognizing the
genocide that took place in Armenia, but we do need to do what we can
to grow those areas, to get democracy to take root in the region,
which is starting to. . . [in] Georgia, Kyrgizstan. . . we need it
to many of the areas as well.”

“We welcome the support of Senator Brownback for U.S. recognition of
the Armenian Genocide, and join with him in working to strengthen the
American response to the genocide taking place in the Darfur region
Sudan,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Armenian
Americans – victims of the first genocide of the 20th century –
deeply appreciate his leadership, along with Senator Jon Corzine,
on the Darfur Genocide Accountability Act.”

Sen. Brownback joined this week with over 30 of his Senate colleagues
in cosigning a Congressional letter to President Bush urging him to
honor his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide. A similar letter
in the House of Representatives has garnered over 175 signatures.

To watch the interview on the C-SPAN archive, visit the C-SPAN website
and fast forward roughly 25 minutes into the broadcast.

Senators Brownback (R-KS) & Corzine (D-NJ)
Situations in Rwanda and Sudan and other topical issues.
4/7/2005: WASHINGTON, DC: 45 minutes:
C-SPAN rtsp://video.c-span.org/15days/wj040705_sens.rm

#####

Der Tagesspiegel, Deutschland
18 April 2005

“Armenian Tsunami”
90 years of silence: A book about life after Genocide

`Armenischer Tsunami`
90 Jahre Schweigen: Ein Buch über das Leben nach dem Völkermord

Von Matthias Meisner

Nicht alle haben die Lektion über den Völkermord an den Armeniern
gelernt. Am kommenden Sonntag jährt sich sein Beginn zum 90. Mal, und
lange schien es so, als sei das Thema vor allem mit Rücksicht auf die
Türkei hier zu Lande tabu. Wohl deshalb kommt ein neues Buch über das
kleine Land zwischen Kaukasus und Ararat und seine Leute nicht ohne
ein paar Vorbemerkungen aus: Huberta von Voss, die das `Porträt einer
Hoffnung` als Herausgeberin verantwortet, will vorab gleich so viel
erklärt haben, dass man ein fast ein Viertel des ganzen Bandes lesen
muss, bis man dann tatsächlich beim ersten Porträt eines Armeniers
anlangt. Wobei es doch hauptsächlich darum gehen soll, den Alltag der
Menschen in Armenien und den der Armenier im Exil vorzustellen –
Lebensbilder sollen von der Hoffnung sprechen, als Volk in der
Diaspora zu überleben und Frieden mit der eigenen Geschichte zu
finden.

Zum Thema
Tagesspiegel Online: Literatur Spezial

Wobei Geleitwort, Einleitung, Einführung und die Interpretationen
durchaus lesenswert sind. Sie bieten eine Grundlage für das Verstehen
eines Volkes, das einst, im vierten Jahrhundert, als erstes Land der
Welt das Christentum zur Staatsreligion erhob. Heute ist die
ehemalige Sowjetrepublik – klein wie Brandenburg – arm und isoliert.
Unversöhnlich und kompromisslos steht die Regierung in Eriwan mit dem
Nachbarland Aserbaidschan im Konflikt um die Enklave Berg-Karabach.
Vor allem aber hat sich Armenien seit 1915 nie mit seinem Nachbarn
Türkei versöhnt: Die Grenzen sind geschlossen, Handel, wenn
überhaupt, läuft nur über das Transitland Georgien. Als absurd
beschreibt Huberta von Voss die Situation: In Deutschland steht die
Leugnung des Holocausts unter Strafe, wohingegen in der Türkei die
Benutzung des Terminus Genozid für die Ereignisse vor 90 Jahren
geahndet wird – obwohl auf den im damaligen Osmanischen Reich
angeordneten Todesmärschen nach Schätzungen 1,5 Millionen Armenier
ums Leben kamen.

`Porträt einer Hoffnung` kommt rechtzeitig, um der Diskussion über
das Massaker eine Basis zu geben. Denn dass es eine neue Debatte
gibt, daran besteht kein Zweifel mehr. Erst wurde wochenlang
gestritten, weil Brandenburg das Thema Armenien vom Lehrplan in den
Schulen nahm. Jetzt wirft der türkische Botschafter in Berlin der
Unionsfraktion im Bundestag vor, sich zum Sprecher des `fanatischen
armenischen Nationalismus` zu machen, weil sie der Vertreibung der
Armenier gedenken will. Der angesehene türkische Kolumnist Mehmet Ali
Birand warnte dieser Tage gar vor einem `riesigen Tsunami, dem
armenischen Tsunami`. Birand ist sicher, dass die Türkei im Recht sei
und niemand von einem Völkermord sprechen kann.

Das Buch bietet zu dieser Debatte jede Menge Informationen,
beschreibt nicht nur die türkische Leugnung des Völkermordes und die
Flucht der damaligen Haupttäter außer Landes – oft nach Berlin. Es
beschreibt die Verstrickung des deutschen Kaiserreiches. Und erinnert
daran, dass sich später Adolf Hitler für den Holocaust auch deshalb
ermuntert sah, weil die Deutschen den Völkermord an den Armeniern so
rasch vergessen hatten. Umso erstaunlicher mutet an, dass die
SPD-Bundestagsabgeordnete Christa Lörcher noch 2000 vor einer
Anerkennung des Völkermordes warnte – damit der Dialog mit der Türkei
nicht erschwert wird.

Nach vielen harten Fakten geht es dann um die Menschen. Der Leser ist
froh, von vielen Armeniern zu hören, die sich jeder auf seine Weise
Fremdherrschaft und Leid widersetzen, ob nun als Wissenschaftler,
Musiker, Schriftsteller oder gar Außenminister. Und noch einmal lernt
er: Die weitaus meisten Armenier leben heute im Exil, in den USA, in
Frankreich, aber auch etwa in Indien – und selbst in der Türkei, wie
die Akkordeonspielerin Anahit, die bis zu ihrem Tod 2003 in den
Gassen beim Istanbuler Fischbasar musizierte. Sie wird, wie viele
andere Vertreter des kleinen Volkes, liebevoll vorgestellt. Bekannte
sind dabei, wie Charles Aznavour, Unbekannte, wie ein
Karabach-Veteran. Und selbst wenn die Herausgeberin nicht von allen
Porträtierten ein gutes Foto auftreiben konnte: Armenier aus aller
Welt geben in diesem Buch ein gutes Bild ab.

Huberta von Voss: Porträt einer Hoffnung – Die Armenier.Verlag Hans
Schiler, Berlin 2005. 415 Seiten, 28 Euro.

The Herald (Glasgow)
April 16, 2005

Goddess of Revolution who makes Russians see red

PROFILE : YULIA TYMOSHENKO;
She is the prime minister of Ukraine, accused of corruption and with
a question mark over her nationality. But even that is overshadowed
by the latest controversy. Now she faces charges of bribing Russian
defence officials – fuelling the friction between the two vying
neighbours

by: ABIGAIL WILD

RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH CONTROVERSY: Ukraine’s prime minister Yulia
Tymoshenko feels her party has awakened the hopes of people.

RELATIONS with Russia were never going to be straightforward, but
Yulia Tymoshenko’s appointment as Ukrainian prime minister hardly got
things off to a great start. This week the facade of harmony,
awkwardly presented by the leaders of both countries, finally showed
cracks when Tymoshenko cancelled her scheduled visit to Moscow.

A spokesman for Tymoshenko said the trip was being delayed “because
Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko gave an order recommending the
Ukrainian prime minister . . . avoid foreign travel for now”. No
Ukrainian ministers, it was reported, were allowed to make visits
abroad until the end of the spring farming season. Sergey Lavrov, the
Russian foreign minister, insisted there were no objections to her
visit from their side of the fence, and that Vladimir Putin, Russian
president, had made it clear that his government was “eagerly
awaiting her in Moscow”.

The cancellation, however, came after Russian prosecutor-general
Vladimir Ustinov reiterated that the prime minister was wanted on
charges of bribing Russian defence officials. She is still a “wanted
criminal”, he said, and a warrant for her arrest remains in force. It
doesn’t appear to have soothed matters that Ustinov also said she
would not be arrested because of her immunity as a senior government
official. To everyone else, it looks like the first big clash between
Kiev and Moscow since Yushchenko became president.

Tymoshenko – a tower of strength to Yushchenko during last year’s
Orange Revolution – has always been a potential stumbling block in
the bid to establish a functional relationship with Putin, without
which the Ukraine premier has less chance of winning the approval of
the pro-Russian eastern regions that voted against him.

Tymoshenko – once known to Ukrainians as the Gas Princess – has in
her favour a charisma and charm that makes her an expert at working
up a crowd, and earned her new nickname Goddess of Revolution. The
trouble is, those who hate her really do hate her, and the approval
of pro-western Ukrainian nationalists and her pro-Russian opposition
appear to be mutually exclusive.

Given her background and the supposed scheme to tarnish her
reputation, her popularity at first seems quite a feat. Born in 1960
in Dnipropetrovsk, she studied economics and cybernetics at
university, and began her career at a mechanical engineering plant.

She eventually ran a lucrative private gas business. The immaculate
Heidi-meets-Queen Amidala hairstyle may make her look like a peasant,
but during the 1990s she was one of the richest women in her country.

Her enemies would have it that she was as corrupt as the oligarchs –
the business elite – she now poses a threat to. When she first
entered politics a decade ago, her party – Hromada – had very little
respect, and was viewed as a bunch of greedy business people out for
nothing more than an increase in their own profits.

She remains haunted by the accusation that she wanted the officials
to inf late the price of supply contracts with the Russian military
by dollars-80m (pounds-42.5m) , but her claim that it’s all part of
some conspiracy against her is easy for Ukrainians to believe. Her
predecessor, Leonid Kuchma, waw loathed by the end of his term.

Tymoshenko’s growing fanclub could only have been reassured when she
called him a “red-haired cockroach” and suggested to supporters of
Viktor Yanukovych in last year’s troubled elections that they should
hang themselves on their blue and white scarves.

Moscow, having backed rival candidate Yanukovych, was unsurprisingly
mute at the news of her nomination as prime minister and Putin never
made explicit public comment. The press was more realistic about the
effect it might have on the tension between the two countries, and
several editorials were strongly antiTymoshenko.

Vedomosti, the Russian business daily, called it a “slap in the face
for Moscow and, personally, for him whose name is best not spoken in
vain”. The Russian Communist Party paper, Pravda, called Yushchenko
and his supporters “a group of lying, twofaced and corrupt politicos
who have forced their way into government . . . and ordinary people
will have to pay the price for it.”

Elsewhere, Die Tageszeitung, the German newspaper said: “The
pugnacious Yulia is like a red rag to the Kremlin and the Kremlin
cannot but interpret her nomination as yet another humiliation.”

Tymoshenko, typically, had her own grandiose, provocative statements
to make. “We have passed through a long election path, ” she said.
“We have awakened the hopes of people that the government can work
and provide results . . . I want to thank the president, the
parliament and the people for honouring me with the task. People are
waiting for a new government that will be honest and will resolve all
the problems they have lived with for 14 years.”

Just a handful of Russian commentators are willing to concede that
some may be taking her revolutionary posturing for anti-Russian
sentiment. Some supporters, keen to extinguish that perception, say
her maiden name is not Grigyan, that she is not half-Armenian on her
father’s side, but that she is ethnically Russian, and her maiden
name is Telegina. Tymoshenko herself makes much of the fact she is
from Dnipropetrovsk, in the predominantly Russian-speaking east of
the country.

Despite the controversy, Tymoshenko has the same unequivocal support
among her peers that she has enjoyed for some time. The president –
who once called her his “political partner, political friend” – gave
her his personal backing and her appointment was supported by 373
votes in the 450-seat parliament, when she only needed 226 to win.

She is thought to be well liked by Anatoly Chubais, head of Russia’s
state-controlled electricity monopoly – a veteran politician who like
Tymoshenko is either demonised or idolised, and little in between.
She was regarded as an efficient anti-corruption force as a member of
Yushchenko’s government of 1999-2001, and was credited with
redirecting dollars-2bn to the state budget.

She has approached her new role with the same people-pleasing
determination. “My government will not take bribes. My government
will not steal, ” she said, as the new cabinet was voted in. She
talks of finally separating the “Siamese twins” of business and
politics, keeping a close eye on potentially corrupt privatisations,
ensuring nobody has unfair tax privileges, preparing Ukraine for EU
membership, and improving state monopolies. Her programme, Towards
the People, aims to raise living standards and build up trust in the
government.

In doing so, she has ruffled feathers among the rich and highpowered
– the very people she used to rub shoulders with. It is clear that
Tymoshenko sees no ambiguity in her career path. She declared, upon
being made prime minister: “My past and my future testify that I love
my country and want to serve its interests.”

iew.bg?articleid=225405

‘Trees of Hope’ campaign to beautify homeland

Belmont Citizen-Herald
Thursday, April 14, 2005

This month, the Armenia Tree Project announced the launch of its “Trees of
Hope” campaign in observance of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.
“ATP is inviting Armenians all over the world to join us as we remember
the past and embrace the future by planting Trees of Hope all across the
Armenian homeland,” stated ATP Executive Director Jeff Masarjian. “These
memorial trees are not only an inspiring way to honor our lost ancestors but
also a very practical way to preserve the precious Armenian homeland –
restoring its environmental integrity and scenic beauty.”
ATP’s inaugural planting for the 2005 season will begin with 90,000
trees, symbolizing the 90 years that have passed since the first genocide in
modern history.
“Our goal is to grow many thousands of Trees of Hope to maturity in
time for the milestone 100th anniversary commemoration,” said Masarjian.
“With a thriving Armenian landscape in 2015, it will be evident that the
Armenian Spirit is alive and well with all the life, beauty, and hope of
nature.”
Given the importance of breaking ground during this year’s planting
season, the Trees of Hope initiative is supported by a comprehensive
campaign designed to reach the widest audience possible.
Those who adopt Trees of Hope may participate with gifts starting from
$15, which covers the propagating, planting and care-taking of one tree. In
addition to a single commemorative tree, they can adopt a four-tree cluster,
an eight-tree grove, a 35-tree arbor, or pledge a 100-tree woodland or
335-tree forest. Participants also can opt to receive a personalized Trees
of Hope certificate as a keepsake.
Carolyn Mugar, founder of the Armenia Tree Project, said, “By planting
these memorial trees in Armenia, we are helping to put hope and pride on the
Armenian horizon for both its struggling citizens and its worldwide
diaspora. Through this and other tree-planting initiatives, we also hope
that our efforts may serve as an inspiration for other developing nations or
recent survivors of genocide now in the process of healing and rebuilding.”
Mugar added, “It is our vision that one day the images of uprooted
Armenian victims on a death march through the Syrian desert will be replaced
by images of an Armenian homeland flourishing with bounty and firmly rooted
in opportunity. Not because we have forgotten the past, but because we now
are able to redeem it. We urge Armenians everywhere to take a few moments of
their time to share in this positive expression of remembrance.”
Donations can be made by mail, phone, or online. For additional
information, call 617-926-8733 or go to

Watertown TAB & Press, MA
April 15 2005

Armenian Genocide commemoration events
Friday, April 15, 2005

The Greater Boston Committee for the Commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide, an umbrella organization of all area churches and major
civic groups, announces the following community-wide commemoration
events for the 90th anniversary of the Genocide. All events are free
and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. For more information,
and periodic updates, log on to

“Victims of 1915 and We Today”- Sunday, April 17, 10 a.m., at
Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church, 200 Lexington St., Belmont. A
memorial service and evocation.

“Remembrance and Commemoration through Armenian Culture and
Music”- Sunday, April 17, 5 p.m., at St. James Armenian Apostolic
Church, 465 Mount Auburn St., Watertown. Featuring Sayat Nova Dance
Company and Zulal Armenian Folk Trio.

“The Road to Redemption: Memories of the 1915 Armenian
Genocide”- Thursday, April 21, 7:30 p.m., at Boston University’s
Morse Auditorium, 602 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. Presented by the
Greater Boston Committee for the Commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide.

Massachusetts State House Commemoration – Friday, April 22, 11
a.m., in the Chamber of the House of Representatives, followed by an
informal reception in the Great Hall. George Keverian, former Speaker
of the House, will be honored for his service and respect of the
state’s Armenian community.

Ecumenical Service and Memorial Service – Saturday, April 23,
6:45 p.m., at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, 145 Brattle
St., Cambridge. A service for 250 Armenian intellectuals who perished
on April 24, 1915. Presented by the Honorable Clergy of Boston
Armenian Churches.

Requiem and Memorial Concert for the 90th Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide – Saturday, April 23, 7:30 p.m., at Holy Trinity
Armenian Apostolic Church. Presented by Erevan Choral Society, under
the direction of the Very Rev. Oshagan Minassian.

Rally to Commemorate the Armenian Genocide in New York –
Sunday, April 24. Busses depart from St. James and St. Stephens
Armenian Churches in Watertown to Times Square, for those wishing to
take part in the rally to commemorate the Genocide and denounce the
denial of the Turkish government. For more information, log on to

The Films of J. Michael Hagopian – Friday, April 29 and May 6,
various times, at Kendall Square Cinema, 1 Kendall Square, Cambridge.
Screenings of “Germany and the Secret Genocide” and “Voices from the
Lake.” Presented by the Greater Boston Committee for the
Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, with cooperation of Kendall
Square Cinema.

A1plus

13:12:37 | 14-04-2005 | Politics |

US SECRETARY OF STATE TO VISIT SOUTHERN CAUCASUS

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit Southern Caucasus in the
first decade of May, reports day.az quoting diplomatic sources.

During her meetings with the authorities of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia
Mrs Rice will discuss bilateral relations of US and the countries of the
Southern Caucasus, as well as issues of democratization, military and
political cooperation and matters concerning resolution of regional
conflicts.

While meeting with the Armenian and Azeri officials the US Secretary of
State will also touch upon the issues on Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement in detail.

Armenian minister accuses Turkey of failure to show tolerance to genocide
issue

Mediamax news agency
13 Apr 05

YEREVAN

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has expressed indignation at
the fact that “in the run-up to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
genocide, Turkey has failed to take a tolerant position, and moreover,
is trying to ‘counterattack'”.

Speaking at a briefing in Yerevan today, the Armenian foreign minister
said that “Turkey is trying not only to brazenly rewrite its own
history but also wants to convince other countries”. This is how
Vardan Oskanyan commented on Ankara’s intention to appeal to the
British government to proclaim as not corresponding to reality the
facts presented in the so called Blue Book which was written back in
1916 and which serves as a main source of information on the Armenian
genocide.

“I am sure that this policy will boomerang against the Turkish
authorities,” Vardan Oskanyan said, stressing that these actions of
Ankara “are only strengthening our determination to achieve
international recognition of the Armenian genocide”.

The Armenian foreign minister expressed confidence that the issue of
recognition of the Armenian genocide will be on the agenda of the
talks on Turkey’s admission to the European Union, which will start in
October. “This issue may not become an official precondition,
nevertheless, beyond all doubt it will be touched on during the
talks,” Vardan Oskanyan said.

The Armenian foreign minister said that Yerevan views the issue of
recognition of the Armenian genocide in the context of ensuring
Armenia’s security.

“Unless this country, which has major military potential and occupies
an openly pro-Azerbaijani position in the settlement of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict, recognizes the Armenian genocide, we cannot trust
it and feel secure,” Vardan Oskanyan said.

Zaman, Turkey
April 13 2005

Armenian Orthodox Chruch Representative: Kemal was a Butcher, too
By Anadolu News Agency (aa)

Armenian Orthodox Church representative Vertanes Kalayjian insulted
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the modern Republic of Turkey, at a
conference held in the US Congress, saying: “Kemal was a butcher,
too.”

The Helsinki Commission, an independent organization of the US
government conducting studies on issues like human rights and
democracy, has organized a conference about “religious freedoms in
Turkey” in the US House of Representatives in Rayburn.

During his speech at the conference Kalayjian said that despite a
reconciliatory initiative by Turkey, he has no reason to share this
optimism today.

Kalayjian referred to the founder of the Turkish Republic Ataturk as
“Kemal” and said: “In my personal opinion, Kemal was a butcher, too.”

Upon this, Fatih Yildiz, a diplomat from Turkey’s Washington Embassy,
who was not invited to the conference as a participant, but attended
in the audience, started to talk and protested Kalayjian’s remarks.

“They should have checked the background of all participants before
organizing such a conference. At the US Congress, it is impossible to
accept any insults against the founder of Turkey, Ataturk as it is
equally impossible to accept insults against the founder of the US,
George Washington ” reacted Yildiz.

Moderators of the session indicated that they had noted these remarks
and that Yildiz’s criticism would be taken into consideration.

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:

ORDINATION AND ANOINTING OF BISHOPS IN ANTELIAS

His Holiness Aram I ordained and anointed V. Rev. Khoren Doghramdjian,
prelate of the Diocese of Greece and V. Rev. Shahan Sarkisian, prelate of
the Diocese of Aleppo, as bishops on April 9 and 10.

On the evening of Saturday April 9, the vowing ceremony of the new bishops
was held in St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral. Certificates from the
Dioceses of Greece and Aleppo, proposing that the primates be appointed as
bishops, were read during the service, by V. Rev. Krikor Chiftjian the
Master of Ceremonies.

The two primates declared their faithfulness to the creed of the Orthodox
Church. Then they read their vows and publicly announced their loyalty to
the Catholicosate of Cilicia, His Holiness Aram I and their readiness to
serve the Armenian Church and people.

On Sunday April 10 the anointing service was held. The service was conducted
by His Holiness Aram I. Bishops Kegham Khatcherian and Nareg Alemezian
joined His Holiness.

His Holiness anointed Bishop Khoren and Bishop Shahan with the Holy Chrism
and handed them the staff and Ring of bishops. After anointing the bishops,
His Holiness gave a special sermon, during which he stressed that the newly
anointed bishops will become servants of the Cathilcosate’s mission. His
Holiness emphasized the importance of keeping the vow to remain loyal to the
traditions of the Armenian Church and the principle of the Catholicosate of
Cilicia.

“The reason and the aim of the existence of our Holy See and your existence
are only to serve this people. Your worthiness, greatness, glory and pride
are in this service,” His Holiness said, adding: “The Armenian Church, with
all its hierarchal Sees exists as one entity for our people. And you are
called to be the servants of that unity through your dedication and
devotion.”

Members of the Cilician brotherhood, clergy guests and a large number of
faithful from Aleppo, Greece and Lebanon congratulated the bishops after the
service.

##

View picture here:

*****

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.

Azerbaijan News Service
April 2 2005

OSCE CHAIRMAN IN OFFICE CALLS ARMENIAN REGIME OF QARABAQ TO JOIN
PEACE TALKS

Dmitriy Rupel, OSCE chairman-in-office and foreign minister of
Slovenia met with Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani FA minister on April
2 within his visit to Baku. In the briefing after the meeting, he
affirmed giving statement during his visit to Yerevan on joining of
Armenian community of Qarabaq the talks on Armenian-Azerbaijan Daqliq
Qarabaq conflict. I have no authority to change format of the talks
said Dmitriy Rupel, OSCE chairman-in-office and added Armenian media
distorted some of his opinions. I met with representatives of
Armenian community of Daqliq Qarabaq. And recently talked with
Azerbaijani community. We have to listen to different ideas,
opinions. And continue talks in this way. I can neither change nor
make corrections to the format of peace talks process. The sides
should come to an agreement. I won’t speak about the sources you
cited. This is a problem, a conflict. I advise you not to believe
these sources. Dmiriy Rupel said he heard new interesting ideas from
Elmar Mammadyarov regarding settlement of the conflict and these
ideas need to be discussed with Vardan Oskanyan, Armenian FA
minister. OSCE chairman also spoke about repeated cease-fire breaches
in Azerbaijan Armenian front line during last weeks. Regarding the
release of three Azerbaijani soldiers held in Armenian captive since
February 15, OSCE chairman assured they would be released soon, as he
was told in Yerevan. Another question that Dmitriy Rupel touched was
upcoming parliament elections. He said OSCE is interested in
democratic elections. OSCE wants the elections to be held
democratically and free. But as a FA minister of Slovenia, I can say
there is a powerful government and weak opposition in Azerbaijan. In
my country, their powers are equal. I think we may contribute these
two sides by balancing their activity. Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani
FA minister didn’t exclude participation of representatives of
Armenian community of Daqliq Qarabaq and said Azerbaijani commu8nity
of Daqliq Qarabaq and OSCE experts should join the talks. But it
should be after official Baku holds negotiations with Armenia. After
his meeting in Foreign Affairs Ministry, Dmitry Rumpel was received
by president in his office. Armenian-Azerbaijan Daqliq Qarabaq
conflict creates a great danger to regional cooperation, stability
and peace. Position of Azerbaijan on the settlement of the conflict
is based on international law norms. Territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan must be restored, ID people must return to their houses.
Our demands are just those approved in international law norms said
president Ilham Aliyev. Stressing speedy development of integration
process in Europe, president Ilham Aliyev said future progress of
Azerbaijan is connected with close cooperation with European and
Euro-Atlantic organizations. Expressing his satisfaction with meeting
with the President OSCE chairman said the main issue they are
concerned about is Daqliq Qarabaq problem. Elections and democratic
development issues are at the center of attention of OSCE as well.