Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Le Monde, France
04 octobre 2004
Les réticences à l’entrée d’Ankara dans l’Union européenne dominent
largement dans le débat politique français ;
FRANCE ÉLARGISSEMENT DE L’EUROPE M. Chirac promet un référendum sur
l’adhésion de la Turquie
Jean-Michel Bezat
L’ÉCHÉANCE est lointaine, mais le sujet est si sensible qu’il
mobilise déjà, en France, l’ensemble des chefs de partis. Tous ont
officiellement arrêté une position – pour ou contre – l’adhésion de
la Turquie dans l’Union européenne (UE). Dans le camp du « oui »
comme dans celui du « non », chaque argument avancé est retourné par
l’adversaire. Un élargissement de plus, pour le premier ; une
dilution, selon le second. L’arrivée d’une nation musulmane mais d’un
Etat laïque ; le cheval de Troie de l’islamisme dans la vieille
Europe chrétienne. La poursuite d’un projet destiné à contrebalancer
la superpuissance américaine ; la mort du projet d’Europe-puissance.
Une chose est sûre, les « turcosceptiques », pour reprendre
l’expression de huit intellectuels turcs ( Le Monde du 29 septembre),
dominent la classe politique française. Ils relaient ainsi une
opinion publique majoritairement hostile à l’entrée de la Turquie
dans l’Union, qu’il s’agisse des sympathisants du FN (74 %), de l’UDF
(72 %) et de l’UMP (63 %), mais aussi des partisans du PS (55 %),
selon un sondage Ipsos publié, le 28 septembre, par Le Figaro. Le FN
et le Mouvement pour la France (MPF) de Philippe de Villiers mettent
en avant le risque d’une perte de l’identité culturelle, voire
religieuse, du Vieux Continent. Il est d’autant plus fondé, selon
eux, que le parti du premier ministre, Recep Erdogan, défend les
valeurs islamiques.
Les craintes des dirigeants de l’UMP sont aussi fortes, mais elles
s’expriment de façon plus nuancée – sauf quand Jean-Pierre Raffarin
redoute, dans un récent entretien au Wall Street Journal, que « le
fleuve de l’islam » ne rejoigne « le lit de la laïcité ». Ces
positions sont éloignées de celles de Jacques Chirac, qui juge que la
Turquie a « vocation » à intégrer l’Union « à long terme ». Le chef
de l’Etat récuse notamment les argumentaires ethniques ou religieux,
persuadé qu’ils confortent tous ceux qui, aux Etats-Unis et en
Europe, ne voient plus dans la marche du monde qu’un « choc des
civilisations ».
Encore président du parti chiraquien, Alain Juppé avait été sans
ambiguïté. Invitant les militants à « ne pas confondre élargissement
et dilution », il soulignait, en mai 2004, que ni « la culture » ni «
l’histoire » de la Turquie – pas plus que celles de la Russie, de
l’Ukraine ou du Maghreb – ne la destinent à entrer dans « la famille
» européenne. Nicolas Sarkozy, le futur président de l’UMP, défendra
un point de vue similaire : il affirmait récemment, et en termes
presque identiques à ceux de M. Juppé, que la Turquie « n’a pas sa
place en Europe ».
Président de l’UDF, François Bayrou joue, lui aussi, sur le triple
registre de la culture – « une autre conception de l’homme, de la
famille, de la femme » -, de la démographie – « choisir de faire d’un
pays non européen le plus important d’Europe par sa représentativité
au Parlement est un danger » – et de la politique – « une adhésion
éventuelle signifie en fait le renoncement au projet d’union
politique » – pour la rejeter aux marges de l’Union. Il préfère lui
accorder le statut de « partenaire associé » prévu par les traités
européens, comme Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, Edouard Balladur et…
Laurent Fabius.
« PAS UN CLUB CHRÉTIEN »
Comme le projet de Constitution européenne, la question turque
suscite une divergence entre l’ancien premier ministre et le premier
secrétaire du PS, François Hollande. M. Fabius renvoie le pays de
Kemal Atatürk dans le troisième des « cercles concentriques » autour
desquels l’Europe devrait, selon lui, s’organiser. Plus ouvert à une
intégration dans l’Union, M. Hollande cherche, lui, un point
d’équilibre entre ses partisans et ses adversaires. En recevant M.
Erdogan, le 22 juillet, il lui a confirmé son « oui » de principe,
tout en l’assortissant de conditions strictes, dont la reconnaissance
du génocide arménien de 1915 et un respect plus strict des droits de
l’homme.
Sans états d’me, Michel Rocard, européen fervent, défend pour sa
part l’intégration de la Turquie, notamment au nom de la sauvegarde
de la paix dans la région. La refuser, argumente l’ancien premier
ministre, ce serait « attiser le brasier » que l’invasion de l’Irak
par les Etats-Unis a allumé dans le monde musulman.
Dans cet environnement fait d’hostilité et de prudence tactique, les
Verts apparaissent les plus « turcophiles ». Ils souhaitent que le
processus d’adhésion soit engagé « le plus vite possible »,
soulignant que « l’Union n’est pas un club chrétien » et que « la
Turquie est un pays laïque ». Deux arguments régulièrement invoqués
par le PCF et la Ligue communiste révolutionnaire (LCR) pour
défendre, eux aussi, son entrée dans l’Europe.

The Gateway, NE
Sept 30 2004
New sunscreen technology reported by Omaha scientist
As summer comes to an end, an Omaha physician-scientist has recently
reported research findings on a unique sunscreen that could help
people against the sun’s exposure.
Dr. Ramon M. Fusaro, M.D., of the UNMC and Creighton University
Medical Center faculty, presented the results of a sunscreen that is
built into and bound to the skin. The results were presented at the
Eighth International Symposium on the Maillard Reaction in
Charleston, S.C. He conducted the research along with colleague Edwin
Rice, M.D. of Minneapolis’ Park Nicollet Clinic.
The two reported that the formation of melanoidins in the skin, a
keratin-bound sunscreen, protected 30 Caucasian patients from
developing a sun rash from their allergy to sunlight without any
therapeutic failures. The sunscreen was chemically formed in the top
later of the skin by the overnight sequential bedtime applications of
two chemically pure medications. The first medication was
dihydroxyacetone (sunless tanning lotion) followed 15 minutes later
by lawesone (active dye in henna). Serious side effects could be
caused by over-the-counter versions, if used by the public. Fusaro
and Rice warn that those are not pure and may degenerate.
Fusaro said that experimental records of the studied patients
revealed that they also never experienced any sunburns during the
seven months of the study even though 60 percent of them were in
sunlight for eight to six hours per day.
While there are many advantages to the sunscreen, there remains one
major disadvantage of the keratin-bound sunscreen. It cannot be used
in individuals who have a rare disease known as glucose-6 phosphate
dehydrogenase deficiency. Fusaro said, however, that the presence of
the genetic mutation could be identified by a blood test.
The keratin-bound sunscreen will most likely be a prescription
medication, and the user will have to take vitamin D supplements
because of the sunscreen’s efficiency of blocking the sun’s rays
entering the skin.
UNMC teams to help Arab nursing education
Last Monday, UNMC’s College of Nursing formalized a three-year
contract affiliation with the Al-Zaytoonah Private University of
Jordan that will include sharing UNMC’s traditional and online
nursing education and clinical curriculum. It also will provide
faculty training in integrating online courses into traditional
curriculum.
The affiliation was established to advance nursing education in
Jordan and the Arab region.
UNMC’s college of nursing already provides courses to faculty of
Erebouni College in Armenia -the pilot site for the college’s
strategy of a “global classroom” moving into other regions– as well
as India and China.
Officials say the advantages of the partnership include raising the
quality of nursing education, ultimately improving patient care, and
addressing nursing shortages in Jordan and the Arab region. There are
eight colleges of nursing in Jordan.
One of the first things the partnership will support is the creation
of a learning resource center at AZPU. The center will be equipped
with computers and other technology allowing students to learn and
practice nursing skills on their own. The center will also integrate
online courses, audio-visual resources and address improvements in
clinical instruction and evaluation.

Azeris in Moscow protest Garabagh occupation
Azer News
30 Sept 04
Ilgar Gasimov, chairman of the Movement for Azerbaijan, held a
news conference on Monday in the wake of a protest action held by
Azerbaijanis on Teatralny Square in Moscow on September 25 under the
“There is not Azerbaijan without Garabagh” motto.
Gasimov said that during the action, which drew hundreds of Azeris
living in Moscow, Kaluga, Tula and Kostroma provinces of Russia,
protesters condemned Armenia’s policy of aggression and stated that
Azerbaijan would not allow aggressors to appropriate its lands. The
protesters adopted an appeal to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
The appeal to President Aliyev says that the Movement will support
all steps by the President at liberating Garabagh. In the appeal to
Russian President Putin, the Movement condemns the recent terrorist
attacks tragedy in Beslan, North Ossetia and urged Russia to take an
impartial position towards the Garabagh problem. The Mayor’s Office
of Baku did not sanction the rally.

Iodine Deficiency Disorders Plague Europe, Central Asia, says UNICEF
By Lisa Schlein
VOA News
Sep 28, 2004
Anatoly Karpov(UNICEF)
GENEVA – The UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, says Iodine Deficiency
Disorders, which cause mental retardation, are a huge problem in
Europe and Central Asia. UNICEF says this disorder can be solved for
as little as five cents per person per year by iodizing salt.
In this video clip, UNICEF’s regional ambassador and 16-time world
chess champion, Anatoly Karpov, tells children they must have iodine
in their diet, if they want to be smart. He repeats this message in
a joking manner to a group of journalists.
“I can answer you like a joke that I believe that, when we solve
the problem, every child will play chess,” said Anatoly Karpov. “I
believe that this is extremely important, and this is a problem we
know how to solve. One of the few problems we know how to solve.”
Mr. Karpov comes from Russia, located in one of the regions of the
world most seriously affected by iodine deficiency. UNICEF statistics
show that more than half of the people in Western and Central Europe
live in iodine-deficient countries. Surprisingly, some of the most
developed countries, such as Belgium, Denmark, France and Germany
suffer from a lack of iodine. However, the problem is most severe in
countries such as Russia and the Ukraine.
UNICEF says these two countries account for 1.3 million newborn babies
a year, who are not protected from iodine deficiency. This out of
five million iodine deficient babies born in all of the region’s 22
countries. Mr. Karpov says the babies suffer because their mothers
did not include iodine in their diets when they were pregnant. He
says, unfortunately, the mental retardation that results from iodine
deficiency in the womb is not reversible in later life.
“We believe that the cheapest, simplest and general message, to
avoid iodine deficiency, is to have general iodization of salt,” he
said. “And, it does not cost too much. It is about five cents per
year, per person-very cheap.” Mr. Karpov says governments should
pass legislation to make iodized salt mandatory. He says, in countries
with such laws, iodine deficiency disorders have decreased. He notes
this can be seen even in poor countries, such as Serbia-Montenegro,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Armenia and Georgia.
UNICEF says governments often do not promote iodine in food out of
ignorance or widely-held misconceptions. For example, it says India
rescinded legislation on iodized salt under pressure from consumer
groups. It says these groups claimed that iodine in salt causes
a variety of health problems. Tragically, it says, by eliminating
iodine from the diet, mental retardation among children in India,
once again, is on the rise.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 27 2004
CHAIRMAN OF AZERBAIJAN PARLIAMENT VISITING UKRAINE
[September 27, 2004, 18:49:03]
As was stated, Chairman of Milli Majlis of the Azerbaijan Republic
Murtuz Alaskarov is on an official visit in Ukraine.
In the morning on September 26, M. Alaskarov has assigned flowers to
the monument of the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev.
Members of parliamentary delegation, representatives of the Congress
of Azerbaijanis of Ukraine (CAU) also have assigned flowers to the
monument of the father of the Azerbaijan nation. Then, Murtuz
Alaskarov together with deputies of Milli Majlis has planted trees in
the territory of the embassy of Azerbaijan in Kiev where was erected
this monument.
Chairman of Azerbaijan Parliament has met in the embassy the
diplomatic corps in this country.
The same day, M. Alaskarov met the activists of the Congress of
Azerbaijanis of Ukraine at the “Natsionalniy” Hotel.
With the opening remarks, ambassador Talat Aliyev opened the meeting.
Then, warmly having welcomed on behalf of the Congress the Chairman
of Milli Majlis and members of delegation, chairman of the CAU Ogtay
Efendiyev informed on activity of Azerbaijani Diaspora. He has noted
that today there are half million Azerbaijanis live in Ukraine,
regional branches of the Congress function in 27 subjects of Ukraine.
As he said, the Diaspora differs with high activity in all spheres of
the life of Ukraine. He has assured the head of Azerbaijan Parliament
that CAU would and further strengthen its number in the name of
consolidation of the nation to promote the state policy of our
national leader Heydar Aliyev and successfully carried out by
President Ilham Aliyev.
In his statement, Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament has noted stable
political situation in the country, has told about the big
accomplishments of Azerbaijan under the direction of President Ilham
Aliyev in all areas of life of the Republic that inspires the nation
on new achievements in the name of well-being of our people and
prosperity of Azerbaijan, strong base of which was laid by ingenious
Heydar Aliyev.
Speaking on the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Garabagh conflict, Mr.
Alaskarov has called the Ukrainian Azerbaijanis to bring the truth up
to the Ukrainian public. He also has emphasized, that official Kiev
firmly stands o the position of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
that has been once again confirmed during the meeting with chairman
of the Supreme Rada of Ukraine Vladimir Litvin and the first deputy
foreign minister of Ukraine Vladimir Yelchenko
Chairman of Azerbaijan Parliament wished the management and activists
of Azerbaijan Diaspora news successes and accomplishments in the name
of independent Azerbaijan and their second Motherland – Ukraine.
In the second half of day, members of parliamentary delegation have
familiarized with historical memorial complexes of Kiev.
The official visit continues.

Azeri leader, US mediator discuss Karabakh settlement in New York
Azarbaycan, Baku
26 Sep 04
Text of unattributed report by Azerbaijani newspaper Azarbaycan on 26
September headlined “Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has received
the US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann”
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received the US co-chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann, in New York on 24 September.
The sides focused on the peaceful settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. President Aliyev
spoke about the importance of the speedy peaceful settlement of the
problem and stressed a need for increasing the OSCE Minsk Group’s
activity in this sphere.

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Sept 23 2004
WB says no suitable business climate in Azerbaijan

The World Bank has published its annual report, “Doing Business in
2005: Removing Obstacles to Growth”, which explores business climate
in most countries around the world. 145 countries were evaluated
based on seven key indicators, including conditions for starting a
business, hiring and firing of employees and receiving loans.
According to the mentioned criteria, the countries being assessed
were broken into five groups, with the first in sequence implying
those with most favorable business environment and the last those
with the least favorable business climate.
As for former USSR republics, the Baltic states, Russia, Armenia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan were included into the second
group, while Ukraine, Belarus and Azerbaijan the fourth group, which
includes countries with least suitable conditions for business.
Lithuania topped the list of ex-USSR countries, with the 17th place
in the world rating. The world rating list was topped by New Zealand,
USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia, while closing the list were
India, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Ecuador and a number of African
countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
September 22, 2004 Wednesday
Armenia not consider NATO membership
By Tigran Liloyan
YEREVAN
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan noted that Armenia does not
consider NATO membership in its foreign policy.
“There are no changes in this issue. Maximum expansion of
cooperation, interaction but not membership is considered,” the
minister told a news conference in Yerevan on Wednesday.
Armenia intends to cooperate seriously with NATO, and partnership may
be broader, President Robert Kocharyan said receiving the delegation
of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on September 14. He noted that
Armenia is involved in several NATO programmes.
For his part, Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan said a week ago, “We
praise highly cooperation with NATO that is an important component of
the national security of the republic.” According to him, “if earlier
Armenia had a status of observer, now the country is involved in 50
measures.”

Armenia
International Religious Freedom Report 2004
Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion; however, the law
specifies some restrictions on the religious freedom of adherents of
minority faiths, and there were some restrictions in practice. The
Armenian Apostolic Church, which has formal legal status as the
national church, enjoys some privileges not available to adherents of
other faiths.
There was no overall change in the status of respect for religious
freedom during the period covered by this report. According to
legislation passed in November 2003, the Law on Alternative Military
Service took effect on June 1, but had not been implemented by the end
of the period covered by this report. The law provides “conscientious
objectors” (after receiving the formal approval of a government panel)
the opportunity to serve in either noncombat military or civil service
duties instead of as conscripted military personnel. In June, the
Government again denied the Jehovah’s Witnesses application for formal
registration as a religious organization. The registrar’s office cited
technical problems with the application. Other denominations
occasionally report acts of discrimination, usually by mid-level or
lower level government officials.
The generally amicable relationship among religions in society
contributed to religious freedom; however, societal attitudes toward
some minority religions are ambivalent.
The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the
Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights.
Section I. Religious Demography
The country has a total area of 11,496 square miles, and its
population is approximately 3 million.
The country is ethnically homogeneous, with approximately 98percent of
the population classified as ethnic Armenian. Approximately 90 percent
of citizens nominally belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church, an
Eastern Christian denomination whose spiritual center is located at
the cathedral and monastery of Etchmiadzin. Religious observance was
discouraged strongly in the Soviet era, leading to a sharp decline in
the number of active churches and priests, the closure of virtually
all monasteries, and the nearly complete absence of religious
education. As a result, the number of active religious practitioners
is relatively low, although many former atheists now identify
themselves with the national church.
For many citizens, Christian identity is an ethnic trait, with only a
loose connection to religious belief. Many Azeris left Armenia during
the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh in 1988-94, increasing Armenia’s
religious and ethnic homogeneity. The head of the Church, Catholicos
Garegin II (alternate spelling Karekin), was elected in 1999 at
Etchmiadzin with the participation of Armenian delegates from around
the world.
There are comparatively small, but in many cases growing, communities
of other faiths. The Government does not provide figures for religious
adherents, but the congregants themselves offered the following
estimates: Yezidi (a Kurdish religious/ethnic group which includes
elements derived from Zoroastrianism, Islam, and animism, with
approximately 30,000 to 40,000 nominal adherents); Catholic, both
Roman and Mekhitarist (Armenian Uniate) (approximately 180,000);
Pentecostal (approximately 25,000); Greek Orthodox (approximately
1,176); Jehovah’s Witnesses (approximately 7,500); Armenian
Evangelical Church (approximately 5,000); Baptist (approximately
2,000); unspecified “charismatic” Christian (approximately 3,000);
Seventh-day Adventist (800 to 900); the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints (Mormons)(1,500 to 2,000); Jewish (500 to 1,000),
and Baha’i (over 200). In addition, small Muslim, Hare Krishna, and
pagan communities exist in the country. Yezidis are concentrated
primarily in agricultural areas around Mount Aragats, northwest of
Yerevan. Armenian Catholic and Greek Orthodox Christians are
concentrated in the northern region, while most Jews, Mormons, and
Baha’i are located in Yerevan. In Yerevan, there are approximately
1,000 Muslims, including Kurds, Iranians, and temporary residents from
the Middle East.
Members of Jehovah’s Witnesses continue their missionary work and
reported gains in membership during the period covered by this
report. Evangelical Christians and Mormons also sponsor missionary
programs in the country.
Section II. Status of Religious Freedom
Legal/Policy Framework
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion; however, the law
specifies some restrictions on the religious freedom of adherents of
faiths other than the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Constitution also
provides for freedom of conscience, including the right either to
believe or to adhere to atheism. The 1991 Law on Freedom of
Conscience, amended in 1997, establishes the separation of church and
state, but grants the Armenian Apostolic Church official status as the
national church.
As a result of extended negotiations between the Government and the
Armenian Apostolic Church, a memorandum was signed in 2000 that
provided for the two sides to negotiate a concordat. This was
scheduled to occur in time for the 1,700th anniversary celebrations in
2001 of the country’s conversion to Christianity; however,
disagreements in some areas precluded this and negotiations were in
progress at the end of the period covered by this report. The document
is expected to regulate relations between the two bodies, settle
disputes over ecclesiastical properties and real estate confiscated
during the Soviet period, and define the role of the Armenian
Apostolic Church in such fields as education, morality, and the media.
The law requires all religious denominations and organizations other
than the Armenian Apostolic Church to register in order to operate
without restrictions. A March 2002 cabinet decision abolished the
Council on Religious Affairs (CRA), and created a new office under the
Prime Minister to oversee religious affairs. A high-ranking official
from the former CRA was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Advisor on
Religious Affairs. In addition, the cabinet established the National
Minorities and Religious Affairs Department, which reports to the
Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff. The function of registering religious
groups in Armenia was transferred to the Office of the State
Registrar, with the Advisor on Religious Affairs and the head of the
National Minorities and Religious Affairs Department holding
consultative roles in the registration process. After establishing the
new agency, the Government required all groups wishing registration to
reapply. To qualify for registration, petitioning organizations must
“be free from materialism and of a purely spiritual nature,” and must
subscribe to a doctrine based on “historically recognized holy
scriptures.” A religious organization must have at least 200 adult
members. Unregistered religious organizations may not publish
newspapers or magazines, rent meeting places, broadcast programs on
television or radio, or officially sponsor the visas of visitors. By
the end of the period covered by this report, the Government had
registered 55 religious organizations, some of which are individual
congregations from within the same denomination.
There is no formally operating mosque; however, Yerevan’s one
surviving 18th century mosque, which was restored with Iranian
funding, is open for regular Friday prayers. While its legal basis is
tenuous since it is not registered as a religious facility, the
Government does not create any obstacles for Muslims who wish to pray
there.
The law permits religious education in state schools. Government
personnel train selected teachers from each school to teach the
religious education curriculum. The beliefs of the Armenian Apostolic
Church form the basis of this curriculum. If requested by the school
principal, the Armenian Apostolic Church sends priests to teach
classes in religion and religious history in those schools. Students
may choose not to attend religious education classes. Many schools
teach the history of the Armenian Apostolic Church as part of
coursework on religion, covering global religions in elementary school
and the Armenian Apostolic Church in middle school. Other religious
groups are not allowed to provide religious instruction in schools,
although registered groups may do so in private homes to children of
their members.
The Government’s new Human Rights Ombudsman, together with the head of
the Department on National Minorities and Religious Affairs, met with
many religious minority organizations during the period covered by
this report.
Restrictions on Religious Freedom
During the period covered by this report, most registered religious
groups reported no serious legal impediments to their
activities. However, members of faiths other than the Armenian
Apostolic Church are subject to some government restrictions. In
particular the 1991 law prohibits “proselytizing” (undefined in the
law), except by the Armenian Apostolic Church, and restricts
unregistered groups from publishing, broadcasting, or inviting
official visitors to the country.
In June, the Government again denied the application of the Jehovah’s
Witnesses for formal registration as a religious organization. The
registrars’ office cited technical problems with the application. The
Jehovah’s Witnesses expressed satisfaction that they were making
progress toward registration and plan to correct the technical
problems and resubmit their application in the near future.
According to the head of the National Minorities and Religious Affairs
Department, some minority religious groups includingthe Molokany and
some Yezidi groups, which might number in the hundreds, have not
sought registration. The only previously registered religious group
that was denied reregistration was the Hare Krishnas, whose membership
had dropped below the 200member threshold.
Although the law prohibits foreign funding for foreign-based churches,
the Government has not enforced this ban and considers it
unenforceable. Travel by religious personnel is not restricted in
practice. No action has been taken against missionaries. Religious
groups did not report any investigations of missionaries during the
period covered by this report.
Abuses of Religious Freedom
At the end of the period covered by this report, 23 members of
Jehovah’s Witnesses remained in prison and 3 in pretrial detention
charged with draft evasion or, if forcibly drafted, with desertion due
to refusal to serve; 43 members who had been serving terms were
released to house arrest after serving onethird of their
sentences. Representatives of Jehovah’s Witnesses said that those
imprisoned were members of their community who had been called for
military service and went directly to police to turn themselves in
rather than waiting until induction to declare conscientious
objection. The Law on Alternative Military Service took effect on June
1, but the Government had not created implementing regulations by the
end of the reporting period. The law will allow conscientious
objectors to participate in an alternative civil service instead of
compulsory military duty. One alternative method would allow
conscientious objectors to serve in the army without carrying arms for
36 months, and another would allow them to do civil service for 42
months. Both options are substantially longer that the 2 years of
service required of those in the Army. Government officials have
stated that the law would be implemented by Fall 2004; however, the
Government had not formed a committee to design these regulations by
the end of the period covered by this report.
There are reports that hazing of new conscripts is more severe for
Yezidis and other minorities and that military and civilian security
officials’ treatment of members of Jehovah’s Witnesses is even
harsher, because their refusal to serve in the military is seen as a
threat to national security.
During the period covered by this report, members of Jehovah’s
Witnesses did not report experiencing difficulty renting meeting
places as they had reported in the past. Lack of local official visa
sponsorship means that Jehovah’s Witnesses visitors must pay for
tourist visas. In previous years, there were reports that government
officials seized Jehovah’s Witness publications at the border. Members
of Jehovah’s Witnesses reportedly are allowed to bring in small
quantities of printed materials for their own use.
The International Helsinki Federation reported that there have been
numerous allegations in recent years that members of nontraditional
religions, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, have been dismissed from
their jobs or physically attacked due to their faith. A representative
of the Jehovah’s Witnesses stated that the organization was not aware
of any of their members being dismissed from his or her job during the
period covered by this report.
Other than Jehovah’s Witnesses who were conscientious objectors, there
were no reports of religious prisoners or detainees.
Forced Religious Conversion
There were no reports of forced religious conversion, including of
minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally removed from
the United States, or of the refusal to allow such citizens to be
returned to the United States.
Abuses by Terrorist Organizations
There were no reported abuses targeted at specific religions by
terrorist organizations during the period covered by this report.
Section III. Societal Attitudes
The generally amicable relationship among religions in society
contributed to religious freedom; however, societal attitudes toward
some minority religions are ambivalent.
The Armenian Apostolic Church is a member of the World Council of
Churches and, despite doctrinal differences, has friendly official
relations with many major Christian denominations, including the
Eastern Orthodox churches, the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican
Church, and major Protestant churches. In 2001, the Armenian Apostolic
Church celebrated the 1,700th anniversary of the official conversion
of Armenia to Christianity.
Suppressed through 70 years of Soviet rule, the Armenian Apostolic
Church has neither the trained priests nor the material resources to
fill immediately the spiritual void created by the demise of Communist
ideology. Nontraditional religious organizations are viewed with
suspicion, and foreignbased denominations operate cautiously for fear
of being seen as a threat by the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Societal attitudes toward most minority religions are ambivalent. Many
citizens are not religiously observant, but the link between religion
and Armenian ethnicity is strong. As a result of the Karabakh conflict
with Azerbaijan, most of the country’s Azeri population, who were
almost all Muslim, left the country. The few Muslims remaining in the
country keep a low profile, despite generally amicable relations
between the Government and Iran.
There was no officially sponsored violence reported against minority
religious groups during the period. Yezidi children on occasion
reported hazing by teachers and classmates. Some observers reported
increasingly unfavorable attitudes toward members of Jehovah’s
Witnesses among the general population, both because they are seen as
“unpatriotic” for refusing military service and because of a
widespread but unsubstantiated belief that they pay money to the
desperately poor for conversions. The press reported a number of
complaints lodged by citizens against members of Jehovah’s Witnesses
for alleged illegal proselytizing. Representatives of the Jehovah’s
Witnesses reported a few cases during the year in which the Procurator
General’s office sent official warnings to individual members
regarding their proselytizing activities, and the group was at times
the focus of verbal religious attacks and hostile preaching by some
Armenian Apostolic Church clerics. In September 2003, teenagers in the
town of Aparan physically assaulted four Jehovah’s
Witnesses. According to a Helsinki Committee report citing eye-witness
accounts, a local priest of the Armenian Apostolic Church appeared to
have encouraged the attack.
Although it is difficult to document, it is likely that there is some
informal societal discrimination in employment against members of
certain minority religious groups.
Section IV. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the
Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights. The
U.S. Ambassador and Embassy officials maintain close contact with the
Catholicos at Etchmiadzin and with leaders of other major religious
and ecumenical groups in the country. During the period covered by
this report, Embassy officials met with the Military Prosecutor to
discuss, among other topics, hazing of minority conscripts and the
status of Jehovah’s Witnesses, met with government officials to
discuss the proposed law on alternative military service,and continued
to meet with government officials to urge that progress be made toward
registering Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Embassy also maintains regular
contact with traveling regional representatives of foreign-based
religious groups such as the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses and
raises their concerns with the Government. Embassy officials closely
monitor trials related to issues of religious freedom and take an
active role in policy forums and nongovernmental organization
roundtables regarding religious freedom.
During the reporting period, the U.S. Mission hosted several
roundtable meetings and receptions in honor of U.S. representatives of
religious organizations. Leaders of local minority religious groups
were regularly welcomed at these events.
Released on September 15, 2004

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (E.)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
September 20, 2004
___________________
EASTERN DIOCESE TO COMMEMORATE THE LEGACY OF HIS HOLINESS VASKEN I, ON
THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS PASSING
The year 2004 marks the 10th anniversary of the passing of His Holiness
Vasken I, of blessed memory, the 130th Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians.
The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) will commemorate
this significant milestone with a solemn requiem service and program, on
Sunday, December 5, 2004, at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, in New York
City.
Beloved and respected by all Armenians during his four decades as
Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Vasken I nurtured and guided
the Armenian Church in extremely difficult circumstances. His
thoughtful actions, deep faith, and strength of character inspired
people around the world, and left the church vital and ready to serve
the Armenian people at the dawn of a new era of independence.
As planned, the December 5 commemoration will begin with the Divine
Liturgy at the cathedral, at 10:30 a.m., celebrated by His Eminence
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate. This will be followed by a
memorial luncheon and program at 1:00 p.m.
More information on the 10th anniversary memorial event for Catholicos
Vasken I will be forthcoming in the press, and on the Diocesan website:
–9/20/04
PHOTO CAPTION: The inspiring legacy of His Holiness Vasken I, of blessed
memory, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians from 1955
to 1994, will be remembered in a special memorial program on Sunday,
Dec. 5, 2004, at New York’s St. Vartan Cathedral complex, marking the
10th anniversary of His Holiness’ passing. (Portrait of Catholicos
Vasken I by Cavouk)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress