Author: Kalantarian Kevo

RosBusinessConsulting Database
July 29, 2004 Thursday 11:54 am, EST
Georgia pays debts to Armenia
The Georgian government has paid $5.8m in fines and interests of its
debt to Armenia for the period from 2003 to May 2004, Armenian
Finance Minister Vardan Khachatrian told journalists, the ARKA news
agency reported. According to him, a bilateral commission that will
discuss all debt issues has been created.
Georgia’s state debt to Armenia is $19.5m. Moreover, Georgian energy
enterprises own $4m to Armenian energy companies.

KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT MEETS US NATIONAL INTERESTS, AMERICAN MEDIATOR
STATED
26.07.2004 14:07
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement by means of negotiations within the frames of the OSCE Minsk
Group (MG) conforms to the US national interests, MG US co-chair Steven Mann
told Regnum IA. In his words, US pursues a long-term policy in references to
this region. US has no interest in events that can threaten stability in the
region as it assists energy projects, one of them being Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil pipeline, which is important for the whole region, the diplomat said.
When replying to the question “whether the US will support Azerbaijan of the
latter decides to restore its territorial integrity”, Mr. Mann stated that
the US position remains unchangeable – the conflict should be resolved
peacefully. At that he called the parties “to sense and compromise”. “Only
by making concessions it is possible to find a solution admissible for the
conflicting parties. This is the opinion of the co-chairs. Only this way we
can achieve long-term peace in the region. The conflicting parties chose the
OSCE to resolve this problem and we are trying to settle the conflict
peacefully and will support the decisions taken by the parts”, the American
diplomat stated. As for the new proposes, they always exist, he said.
However everything depends on the attitude of the parties and readiness to
accept them, he noted adding that the co-chairs are to continue
consultations with the parties within next few weeks.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
07/22/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1. Local ANC Chapters Praise Congressman Schiff for Genocide Amendment 2. Ambassador Ordway Addresses Armenia's Press Before Departure 3. Georgian Foreign Minister Ends Visits, Meets 4. Eduard Oganessian Dies 5. ARF Bureau Extends Condolences 6. Hai Katch Do Students Garner Awards 7. NEWS BRIEFS 1. Local ANC Chapters Praise Congressman Schiff for Genocide Amendment Armenian-Americans Activists Criticize Congressional Leaders for Capitulating to a Foreign Government Los AngelesA powerful coalition of Armenian Americans expressed their strong support over the weekend for Congressman Adam Schiff who authored an Armenian Genocide Amendment that was passed by the US House of Representatives last week, announced the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR). The amendment prevents Turkey from spending US foreign aid dollars against legislation pending in Congress that recognizes the Armenian Genocide. "Our ANC chapters stand united with Congressman Schiff in his effort to ensure that US taxpayer dollars are not used by Turkey to deny the Armenian Genocide," commented ANCA-WR Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian. "Our local ANC chapters stand ready to fight the stated intention of the Republican Leadership in Congress and the White House to strike the Schiff Amendment language when the foreign aid bill goes to conference," he added. Kassakhian referred to the joint statement by House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) and House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO). The Republican Leadership released a statement that read: "We are strongly opposed to the Schiff Amendment... we will insist that conferees drop that provision in conference. We have contacted the Bush Administration, and they have indicated their strong opposition... Turkey has been a reliable ally of the United States for decades... our mutual economic and security relationship rests should not be disrupted by this amendment. Our relationship with Turkey is too important to us to allow it to be in any way damaged by a poorly crafted and ultimately meaningless amendment. Furthermore, we have no intention of scheduling H. Res. 193... during the remainder of this Congress." "Ronald Reagan was the last President to properly commemorate the Armenian Genocide," explained Burbank ANC Chair Peter Musurlian. "The late Presidenta hero to many Armenian American Republicanswould be ashamed at what is taking place on Capitol Hill, with the House leadership's refusal to allow a vote on moral clarity." Glendale ANC Chair Pierre Charaghchian added, "The opposition to the Schiff Amendment by Republican leaders in Congress is sad. Sad because it shows how much influence the Republic of Turkey, a foreign government, has over some Members of Congress." The leaders of the Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena and La Crescenta Armenian National Committee chapters praised Schiff for successfully securing passage of his amendment. The Schiff Amendment was adopted by voice vote during consideration of the House Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2005 on Thursday, July 15, 2004. The foreign aid bill was later passed by a vote of 365 to 41. "Armenian Americans in Pasadena are proud to have Congressman Schiff spearhead the effort to properly recognize the first Genocide of the 20th Century," stressed Pasadena ANC Chair Shahan Stepanian. "We are ready to mobilize the community and ensure that the Amendment passes through the joint House-Senate Conference Committee." "It is unfortunate that our Congressional leaders fail to demonstrate moral clarity on the issue of genocide recognition and prevention. Eventually, public policy will catch up to the truth and we will not let a few select politicians change America's proud response to the Armenian Genocide," stated La Crescenta ANC Chair Sarkis Tchakian. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns and interests of the Armenian American community. For the latest news and action alerts log onto <; 2. Ambassador Ordway Addresses Armenia's Press Before Departure YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--John M. Ordway who has served as the US Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia since November 2001, held his last press briefing in Armenia on July 22, before finishing his diplomatic mission there. Speaking of Armenia-US relations in the past years, he noted shortcomings, but said that on the whole, relations have been positive, and that further improvement of relations would depend on developments in Armenia and the region. "I am sure that the interests shared by the governments and peoples of the two countries won't change. We share the loyalty of the Armenian people to democratic values and formation of a civil society." He said that the US, working with the government of the Republic of Armenia, has tried to develop the economy, establish supremacy of law, and form a civil society, but stressed the importance of implementing additional social and political reforms, and strengthening the economy so as to improve Armenia's investment environment. Asked about human rights and freedom of speech in Armenia, Ordway said that taking into account Armenia's resources, the US would have expected more progress than registered, but that the presence of an active media, along with steps already taken toward forming a civil society are, nevertheless, inspiring. "I think that there is a hope in this sphere and we have great expectations. We will do our best to advance progress." Talking about the peace and security of the South Caucuses, he said the US would continue working with the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group in seeking a "fair and mutually admissible solution," to the Mountainous Karabagh conflict. Praising the current levels of military cooperation between the two countries, Ordway said that bilateral military relations are not limited to assistance. "I hope that Armenian forces will participate in the peacekeeping mission in Iraq soon," he indicated. He praised the country's developing relation with NATO and pledged US backing to further advance the cooperation. Summing up his experience in Armenia, Ordway affirmed his faith in the Armenian people's "great potential for building of a free, independent, economically developed and prospering country." 3. Georgian Foreign Minister Ends Visits, Meets YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili completed her first official visit to Armenia on July 22, after meeting with Armenian President Robert Kocharian, parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian, Prime Minister Andranik Markarian and her Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian. During the meeting with Zourabichvili, President Kocharian expressed satisfaction with the "high level of inter-state relations with Georgia, which are based on mutual trust and cooperation." Kocharian noted that Georgia is going through a rather hard time, but remained positive saying, "Georgian authorities will soon overcome these difficulties." "We are highly interested in stability in Georgia," Kocharian said. "The visit of the head of the Foreign Ministry of Georgia and meetings at a high level will give a new context to issues on the Armenian-Georgian agenda," Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian said on 21 July during his meeting with his Georgian counterpart. The parties discussed mutual advantages of their evolving relationships with the EU and NATO, as well in developing transportation corridors, namely the North-South and East-West highways, and in reopening rail service linking Russia and Armenia, via Georgia. "There are never concrete results from one visit, but it is a process that we are starting. We are determined to increase our economic relations," Zourabichvili told journalists before boarding the airplane for Tbilisi in Zvartnots airport. "Political relations are very good, but we have to deepen them, and have to appear before Europeans as one region, speaking as much as possible with one voice," she said. 4. Eduard Oganessian Dies Eduard Oganessian, the executive director of the Hai Tahd office in Armenia and the director of the Munich Institute for Armenian Research (Institut fur Armenische Fragen), died on Thursday at the age of 72. Born in Yerevan, Oganessian eventually left for Moscow, then Leningrad, where he earned his PhD in 1964. He served as the director of Radio Liberty's Armenian division from 1984 to 1993. He had great input in the production of the three volume The Armenian Genocide: Documentation, published by the Munich Institute for Armenian Research, and was overseeing preparation on the fourth, at the time of his death. He published many works on the Armenian Genocide and the Armenian Case. His latest book "Issues Surrounding the Armenian Case, and Possible Solutions," was published in 2003. 5. ARF Bureau Extends Condolences The Bureau of the Armenian Revolution Federation conveys with deep sorrow the death of dedicated ARF member and intellectual Eduard Oganessian, who passed away on Thursday, July 22 in Yerevan. ARF Bureau Yerevan July 22, 2002 6. Hai Katch Do Students Garner Awards Students of the Hai Katch Do Martial Arts Academy clenched several awards at the World Championships in martial arts, held at the Riviera Hotel Casino in Las Vegas June 25-27. Led by Renshi Mihran Aghvinian, students Tania Asayi, Viken Chookhadarian, Hovig Chrchian, Taline Eskidjian, Jennie Settler, Bedros Tertsagian, Vivian Varbedian, Hovig Zeitlian, took awards in the A, B and C class competitions. 7. NEWS BRIEFS Congressional Committee Chairman to Visit Karabagh YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)Chairman of the United States Congressional Committee on NATO and chairman of the Transitional Democracy think-tank, Bruce Jackson, will visit Mountainous Karabagh in the near future. Jackson announced his plans earlier this week during his visit to the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali. Azerbaijan Not to Make Territorial Compromises, Aliyev Says BAKU (ARMENPRESS)"The Karabagh conflict remains Azerbaijan's most painful problem. For many years Azerbaijan has been trying to resolve this issue peacefully. But regrettably, the talks have yielded no results," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on July 21 while addressing the personnel of a military unit of the Xudat border detachment on the Azerbaijani-Russian border. According to him, the activities of the mediators have yielded no results either. "As for various calls and proposals, they do not reflect the reality," Aliyev added. "Azerbaijan's cause is fair. Our lands are under occupation. International legal norms, justice, economic opportunities and potential are on our side," he said. Aliyev spoke about the country's major efforts in building its military. According to him, sufficient funds have been spent and will be spent in this area in the future. In several years, Azerbaijan will turn into an economically powerful state and its military "superiority" will intensify even further. "Under these conditions, we cannot have a positive attitude to some calls, particularly, with regard to compromises," Aliyev said. "Compromises are impossible on the issue of territorial integrity. I have repeatedly said that we will not compromise on the issue of territorial integrity. Azerbaijan's territorial integrity will be restored. The possibilities of achieving this peacefully have not been exhausted yet. However, we have to be ready to liberate our lands militarily at any moment. We have everything for this: the unity of the Azerbaijani people, the people's complete readiness for action, a strong army and the will of the Azerbaijani leadership and people," he added. Azeri Army Set to Buy Weapons from Pakistan, Russia BAKU (ARMENPRESS) Azerbaijan and Pakistan may reach agreements, concerning the purchase of weapons and the training of army officers, during the upcoming visit of a top Pakistani general to Azerbaijan, Azeri newspaper Ayna reported. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen Muhammad Aziz Khan, is scheduled to visit Azerbaijan in about two weeks, the report said. "Pakistan may offer its close ally, Azerbaijan, military hardware and weapons at discounted prices. This is crucial for the Azerbaijani government because Armenia, which has occupied our territories, buys weapons and military hardware from Russia at reduced prices in accordance with the regulations of the Collective Security Treaty Organization," the report stated. In turn, the Azeri daily, Ekho, reported that Azerbaijan seeks to purchase 120 mm Nona-K towed cannons from Russia. Rumors about the deal emerged after Major-General Vahid Aliyev, the Azeri president's military aide, visited the Russian Expo Arms that was held between July 6-10. Armenian Children Film Wins Best Prize at Athens Festival YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)The collaborative work of two Armenian boys aged 12, was awarded the best film prize at the Kids for Kids Film Festival in Athens, Greece. The film, titled "Sniper," competed in the category of films made by 6-12 year olds. The festival was organized by the Association of European Children Film and the International Center for Children Films. FC Pyunik to Play Against Shakhter Of Ukraine YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)Yerevan's FC Pyunik will move on to play against FC Shakhter Donetsk of Ukraine, after registering a 4-2 victory over FK Pobeda F.Y.R Macedonia. The Armenian team, which now has a 3-1 record in the first leg, came back from a 2-0 Macedonia lead to take the game. NATO Technical Center Opens in Yerevan YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)NATO will be able to provide free satellite and Internet connections to a number of scientific and educational centers in Armenia, thanks to its new technical center that opened in Yerevan on Wednesday. The center was built as part of NATO's Virtual Silk Road program, which seeks to equip science-education institutions in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan with connections as well. Executive director of the Arena Company, which is serving as NATO's partner in Armenia, Grigor Babayan, said the program will run for the next three years and cost $2.5 million. Armenia's share in the project runs at around $500,000. Babayan said that his company ewill be able to provide Internet connections to the Yerevan State University and the Yerevan Physics Institute. He added that 33 more institutions will be connected during the coming year. FIDE Grants Titles to Three Armenian Chess Players YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)On July 20, the World Chess Federation (FIDE) granted Armenian chess player Tigran Petrosian the rank of Grand Master. Two other Armenian chess playersArman Pashikian and Davit Petrosianwere given the title of international rank sport masters. French Coach May Train Armenian National Soccer Team YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)Two French national have arrived in Yerevan to try out for the vacant post of head coach of the Armenian National Team. The men are currently in negotiations with the Armenian Futbol Federation. According to news sources, the mother of one of the candidates is Armenian. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

Turkiye
July 21 2004
ERDOGAN MEETS WITH FRENCH PARLIAMENTARI8ANS, DISCUSSES TURKEY’S EU
BID
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with members of the
French Parliament’s Foreign Relations Commission to seek their
support for Turkey’s European Union membership bid. During their
meeting, Erdogan said that the Turkish and French peoples had had
friendly relations since the days of the Ottoman Empire. Asked about
the so-called Armenian genocide, Erdogan said that the issue was up
to the historians. Later, meeting with French businessmen, the
premier stressed that Turkey needed foreign capital and so urged
French businessmen to make investments. /Turkiye/

Sabah, Turkey
July 21 2004
ARMENIAN BORDER GATE IS A MUST
During his visit to France, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was
asked questions mostly about ”Armenian issue”. Erdogan said that
Armenians faced difficult situation due to Diaspora campaign. ”It is
not in favor of Armenians. Turkey-Armenia border gates can open after
end of Diaspora campaign.”

Cihan News, Turkey
July 18 2004
Turkish P.M. Erdogan Due In France Tomorrow
ANKARA (CIHAN) – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay
three-day official visit to France to promote Turkey’s EU membership
drive. The Turkish Prime Minister will head Paris tomorrow.
The Turkish Prime Minister will meet with his French counterpart
Jean-Pierre Raffarin and with Turkish citizens living in France on
the first day of visit,
Erdogan will attend a conference on July 20 where he will deliver a
speech named Turkey -France: New Perspective for Affective
Partnership. The Turkish Prime Minister is to meet the French
President Jaques Chirac on same day and ask for support for Turkey’s
EU membership bid.
The Turkish Prime Minister will carry out talks with French political
party leaders on July 21st. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan is
expected to meet François Hollande and UMP leader Alain Juppé who
also opposes Turkey’s EU membership.
The bilateral relations, Turkey-EU relations and international
developments including the latest developments in Cyprus, Middle
East, Iraq, Northern Africa Project and Afghanistan will be taken up
in the official government meetings.
Turkey is hoping to open entry talks with the European Union (EU) by
the end of 2004, and has adopted a series of EU harmonization
packages, including political and economic criteria, to meet
membership requirements. The Turkish Parliament has adopted seven EU
harmonization packages in the last two years, and has also abolished
capital punishment in order to comply with EU standards.
EU leaders are due to meet in December to decide whether Turkey, a
candidate country since 1999, has made enough progress on human
rights and political freedoms for the initiation of the long-delayed
accession talks.
Meanwhile, Armenian associations in the French cities of Paris and
Marseille will hold demonstrations against the Turkish Prime
Minister.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
July 14 2004
OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO VISIT BAKU
[July 14, 2004, 13:49:37]
According to the information received by AzerTAj, co-chairmen of the
OSCE Minsk Group for Nagorny Karabakh settlement, Yury Merzlyakov
(Russia), Steven Mann (USA) and Henri Jacolin (France), will pay a
2-day visit to Azerbaijan.
As the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry reported, the aim of the visit by
the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group is to conduct consultations
with the Baku officials concerning the settlement of the Nagorny
Karabakh conflict. They plan to meet with a number of the Azerbaijan
leaders.
The co-chairmen will arrive in Baku from Armenia where they stay now
in the context of their Trans-Caucasian tour.
As Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said, “I would not
say that the co-chairmen would arrive with some new proposals. Since
they did not visit the region in the course of the last six months,
the sides will only exchange opinions.’
Before the visit of the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group to the
region, special representative of the European Union for the South
Caucasus Heikki Talvitie said at the news conference in the
Azerbaijan capital that there were “new moments” with regard to the
settlement of the conflict, which the co-chairmen will discuss with
the sides to the conflict. This visit will be very important,” he
added. “I am glad that both Yerevan and Baku support the activity of
the Minsk Group co-chairmen who have done a great work,” he said.
The EU spokesman did not specify these “new moments.” However, the
official position of Baku, Yerevan and Stepanakert has not changed
today, at the tenth anniversary of the armistice. Baku is ready to
give Nagorny Karabakh the broadest autonomy, but it is flatly against
the independence of the territory.

Armen Press
July 12 2004
ARMENIAN EMBASSY HOSTS PRESENTATION ON ARMENIAN SCIENCE AND LAKE
SEVAN
YEREVAN, JULY 12, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian foreign affairs
ministry said that on July 7, 2004, the Embassy of Armenia in the USA
hosted members of the Federal Water Quality Association and the
Greater Metropolitan Washington Area Section of the Armenian
Engineers and Scientists of America for a presentation on Armenian
science and environmental issues. Arman Kirakosian, Armenian
Ambassador to the U.S., delivered the keynote address, entitled “The
State of the Science in Armenia, with a View Toward the Water
Environment of Lake Sevan,” to an audience of some 60 experts,
researchers, and officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Department of Agriculture, Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Civilian Research & Development Foundation, and other public and
private entities.
In his presentation and the Q&A that followed, Ambassador
Kirakosian presented the modern state of scientific infrastructure,
policies, and directions in Armenia. He described the many challenges
facing the Armenian scientists today, such as drastic decrease in
government funding, greater need for commercial viability and
involvement of the private sector in directing and funding R&D, and
curtailing the so-called ‘brain-drain.’ Despite these challenges, the
Armenian scientists continue to make progress in many areas of
fundamental and applied science due to perseverance and support from
their foreign colleagues and international donors, the Ambassador
noted. He also presented the government’s plans to strengthen science
and education sectors.
Turning to Lake Sevan, Ambassador Kirakosian described the
severity of the man-made ecological problems in Lake Sevan during the
twentieth century, caused by extensive irrigation and hydropower
usage. The resulting 18-meter drop in water level and disruption of
water balance in the lake was a good example of Soviet era
environmental damage, he added. The Ambassador then noted the current
positive trends in Lake Sevan ecology, but stressed the need for
continuing attention for and greater international cooperation to
preserve the unique environment of Lake Sevan.

RIA Novosti, Russia
July 6 2004
RUSSIA-ARMENIA RELATIONS ARE ON THE RISE, RUSSIAN MP SAYS
MOSCOW, July 6 (RIA Novosti) – Russia-Armenia relations are on the
rise, believes Andrei Kokoshin, chair of the CIS Affairs Committee in
the State Duma, or the lower Russian parliamentary house.
In a RIA interview after his meeting with Vardan Oskanyan Tuesday,
Kokoshin said that the Armenian Foreign Minister’s visit had
demonstrated yet again that the two countries were steadily improving
their relations, as befit strategic allies.
“If all states of the region built their national security systems
within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty, like Armenia
does, peace would be much more durable here,” the Russian MP argues.
According to Kokoshin, his detailed talks with Oskanyan covered a
whole number of issues relating to bilateral Russo-Armenian relations
as well as international security issues of mutual concern, including
the situation in the South Caucasus, economic cooperation, and
Armenia’s involvement in integration processes inside the
Commonwealth of Independent States.
Russia and Armenia stand close on issues concerning the threat of
Georgia’s internal conflicts spilling over to neighboring countries,
Kokoshin said. He expressed hope that Russia and Armenia would
continue to develop their economic and humanitarian cooperation.

Raleigh Biblical Recorder, NC
July 2, 2004
Into Armenia: N.C. Baptist partnership bearing fruit
By Tony W. Cartledge
BR Editor
YEREVAN, Armenia – Sweet apricots that spring from Armenia’s volcanic
soil are considered the “queen of Armenian fruits.” A hard freeze in
early spring decimated the crop and made Armenian apricots a rare
commodity this year, but spiritual fruit is flourishing across the
country.
Three years into a partnership with the Evangelical Christian Baptist
Union of Armenia (ECBUA), North Carolina Baptist Men can point to a
number of significant achievements, including major improvements at the
Theological Seminary of Armenia in Ashtarak and the planting of several
new churches.
The physical and financial contributions of volunteers working through
N.C. Baptist Men have played a major role in recent progress, according
to Asatur Nahapetyan, who serves as general secretary for the ECBUA and
as rector of the seminary. Nahapetyan is hopeful that the partnership
will remain strong, and that many more teams will come and assure
Armenians that “we are not alone.”

Pastor Slavik Vartanyan uses a chess club as an outreach tool through
the church in Agarak.
Armenia is a crossroads country, pinched between the southeastern
fringe of Europe and the northern edge of Southwest Asia, with a
culture distinctly flavored by the Middle East.
The Republic of Armenia wraps around the eastern end of Turkey, with
which it has poor relations and a closed border. Armenia claims the
massive mountains of Ararat, now in northern Turkey, and continues to
harbor ill will from ancient conflicts and a Turkish genocide of
Armenian peoples that led to a million and a half deaths during World
War I.
When Armenia was forcibly attached to the Soviet Union shortly
thereafter, Stalin apportioned parts of the country to Azerbaijan. As a
result, lands claimed by Azerbaijan now lay both east and west of
Armenia. The mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabagh remains contested,
though it has been under Armenian control since a fierce war following
the breakup of the Soviet Union in the early 1990’s.
The republic of Georgia lies to the north of Armenia, and Iran to the
south. Armenia has good relations and open borders with both countries.
Despite its setting among predominantly Muslim nations, Armenia is a
largely Christian state, taking pride in being the first nation to
openly declare Christianity as its official religion. Tradition holds
that an early evangelist named Grigor (or Gregory) the Enlightener was
imprisoned in a pit for many years by the Armenian king Tiridates the
Great. After miraculously surviving the pit, Grigor converted
Tiridates, who declared Armenia a Christian state in 301.
The official church, to which most Armenians nominally give allegiance,
is the Armenian Apostolic Church – so named because of an ancient
tradition that Thaddeus and Bartholomew, two of Jesus’ apostles,
evangelized the area in the first century. Church rituals are similar
in some respects to the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches, but
it exists as an independent entity, presided over by a pope-like figure
called the “Katholikos.”
Armenian evangelicals believe the Apostolic church has wandered from
the path of authentic Christianity, maintaining practices such as
animal sacrifices. Church teachings do not call for repentance and
faith, said Nahapetyan, who attended the country’s oldest Apostolic
church as a boy. And, he said, church leaders rely on the Apocrypha and
sayings of the “Holy Fathers” at the expense of the Bible.
Baptists in Armenia number about 6,000, according to Nahapetyan, not
counting children and regular attenders. And, the Baptist movement is
growing. While another Protestant seminary in the area could not
recruit enough students to justify an incoming class, the Baptist
seminary has a waiting list for potential students.
A class of about 20 students graduated June 26, and most of them are
already working as church planters.
When leaders of other church organizations ask Nahapetyan what is the
secret of Baptist success in Armenia, he replies “The Holy Spirit and
the Great Commission.”
Planting churches in cities like Yerevan is easy, Nahapetyan says.
Armenian Baptists hope to start ten new churches in Yerevan by 2010,
though most previous efforts have focused on establishing churches in
outlying cities.
The hardest part of planting churches in Armenia is finding financing
for the church planter and for a place to meet. The nation’s economy
suffered devastating losses following a massive earthquake in 1988, the
breakup of the Soviet infrastructure, economic blockades, energy
shortages, and bad weather in the early 1990’s. Armenia is now on the
rebound, but remains a very poor country with an unemployment rate of
about 20 percent and an average annual income of less than $3,000.
As a result, churches may take ten years or more to become
self-supporting, Nahapetyan says. In most parts of the country, church
planters can survive on less than $200 per month, hosting the new
church in their own apartment or in rented facilities.
N.C. Baptist Men is asking churches to enter three-year partnerships
with new church planters with contributions that vary from $150 per
month in the first year to $90 per month in the third. Twenty churches
currently support such partnerships, but more are needed.
Buildings are relatively inexpensive by American standards. In the
cities of Sissian, Hrazdan, and Armavir, individual N.C. Baptist Men
have purchased unfinished buildings for use by new Armenian churches.
Work teams are needed to help finish the buildings and make them
functional. A large residence was purchased in the strategic city of
Agarat, near the Iranian border, needing only minor modifications to
remodel it for church use.
In some cases, a building can be purchased and readied to serve the
needs of a small church for about $10,000.
N.C. Baptist medical/dental teams have ministered in poor areas of the
country, and more teams are needed. Work teams are also needed to do
evangelism or lead Vacation Bible Schools, according to Jim Burchette,
who is president of N.C. Baptist Men and coordinator of the overseas
partnership efforts. Such programs routinely attract more than 200
children.
Through travel arrangements brokered by N.C. Baptist Men, the cost for
individuals to participate in a mission trip to Armenia is about
$1,600. Most airline itineraries call for overnight flights, offering
the bonus of a day to explore European cities like London or Vienna
while en route.
Armenia is a land of warm and open people, many of whom have never
heard a clear gospel message of salvation through faith and a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ. Volunteering for mission service offers
more than a chance to sample a new culture and the flavor of exotic
foods – the distinctive taste of doing missions in Armenia can be both
enriching and addictive.