Author: Kalashian Nyrie

La Nouvelle République du Centre Ouest
03 juillet 2004
Compétition internationale de vitesse à Payré
La commune de Payré s’apprête à recevoir du 3 au 11 juillet le
championnat d’Europe de modélisme, et plus précisément la discipline
de « racer au pylône ». Sur un plan d’eau, de petits bolides reliés
par un cble de 16 m à un pylône glissent à la surface autour de
celui-ci le plus vite possible. Pour un petit moteur de 1,5 cm3,
compter des vitesses d’environ 100 km/heure. A 5 cm3, les
hydroglisseurs filent déjà à 210 km/heure. Le record de vitesse se
situe aujourd’hui à 283,4 km/heure. Les modèles réduits sont équipés
de moteurs deux temps et utilisent un carburant spécial. Les
appareils se répartissent en deux catégories : ceux à hélice aérienne
et ceux à hélice semi-immergée.
Le « racer au pylône » est apparu en France en 1936. Le pylône du
plan d’eau de Payré a été construit en 1997, en même temps que se
mettait en place le club du Modèle circulaire marin, présidé par
Pierre Barbotin. Un très bon niveau a vite été atteint, avec des
records de vitesse de niveau international : 216 km/h pour les
juniors et 246 pour les seniors. Les modèles sont réalisés par les
compétiteurs eux-mêmes, ce qui nécessite à la fois des compétences
techniques poussées et un savoir-faire spécifique. De ce fait, les
pilotes sont souvent des ingénieurs ou des techniciens.
Une activité formatrice
Parmi les 16 pays qui seront représentés au championnat du monde, on
trouve, en plus de la France, la Bulgarie, la Russie, la
Grande-Bretagne ou l’Italie. L’Arménie sera aussi présente et
particulièrement bien représentée, puisque c’est Hratchia Shahazizian
qui défendra ses couleurs.
Professeur de mécanique de l’université de Yerevan en Arménie et
ingénieur à la cité des étoiles de Moscou, celui-ci est plusieurs
fois champion du monde toutes catégories et détient le record mondial
de vitesse. Une passion qu’il a su transmettre à ses enfants, puisque
son fils est deux fois champion du monde et sa fille trois fois. Même
son petit-fils s’y est mis et est déjà parvenu à la 3e place d’un
championnat du monde.
Hratchia Shahazizian souligne le « climat d’amitié entre les
différents modélistes » et rappelle que les meilleurs concepteurs
d’avions et de bateaux ont débuté par le modélisme, qui permet de
s’initier à moindre coût à l’aérodynamique. Une valeur pédagogique
que ne manque pas de souligner Pierre Barbotin.
– Le championnat d’Europe de modélisme aura lieu du 3 au 11 juillet
aux Iles de Payré. Les épreuves sont prévues lundi 5, mardi 6, jeudi
8 et vendredi 9 de 9 h à 12 h et de 14 h à 20 heures. La remise des
prix aura lieu le samedi 10 au matin. La journée de mercredi sera
consacrée à l’entretien et aux réparations des modèles. L’entrée est
gratuite pour tous.
GRAPHIQUE: Image: Les modèles réduits d’hydroglisseurs de « racer au
pylône ».

Moscow Times
July 6 2004
>From Cow Tails to Top Farmer
By Jennifer Davis
Special to The Moscow Times
The farm has a barn with 10 cows and several pigs, an adjoining dairy
to process milk and cheese, a garden, and grain fields.

CAMPHILL-SVETLANA, Leningrad Region — When Minka arrived at
Camphill-Svetlana, his first job was to hold cows’ tails. Now he
proudly calls himself the village’s farmer-in-chief.
Minka, who has Down syndrome, is something of a celebrity in the tiny
village, Russia’s only fully integrated community for people with
special needs.
Thanks to a flamboyant, charming personality, Minka regularly takes
part in local cultural events and is an active participant in the
village meetings held every Monday evening.
But that wasn’t always the case. One volunteer recalls Minka’s move
in 1997 to this village nestled in the fertile, river-crossed lands
surrounding Lake Ladoga and about 160 kilometers east of St.
Petersburg.
“He was assigned to help milk the cows each morning. At first, Minka
was very frightened of them — he was just supposed to hold the cows’
tails, while I milked them,” the volunteer said. “Within a couple of
months, he started milking the cows himself and later he was the one
waking me up at 6 a.m., pails in hand, ready to get to work.”
Svetlana, as residents call the village for short, is home to an
international group of nearly 40 people who are helping transform the
landscape for Russians with disabilities.
Founded in 1992 by a group of Russians and the Camphill Village Trust
of Norway, the community is designed to allow each person to
contribute to the best of his ability. Svetlana is one of almost 100
communities in Europe, North America, Africa and India run by
Camphill, which was founded in 1939 by Austrian pediatrician Karl
Konig.
“The idea behind Svetlana village is to recreate social life,” said
Svetlana’s British director, Mark Barber. “In modern society, people
are increasingly lonely and living ever more antisocial lives. The
wonderful thing about Svetlana is that it’s such a positive attempt
to recreate the world. Many people, both those with special needs and
volunteers, have found their salvation here.”
Traditional village life revolves around the farm, and Svetlana is no
exception. Its farm has a barn housing 10 cows and several pigs, an
adjoining dairy to process milk, cheese and other products, a garden,
grain fields, an herb workshop and an earth cellar. A bakery and doll
workshop are also on site.
People with special needs, who are referred to here as “villagers,”
live together with volunteers, or “co-workers,” in three houses,
where they share meals and various household duties like preparing
food and cleaning.
Lena, who uses a wheelchair, came to Svetlana from Tashkent,
Uzbekistan, in 1999 and works in the bakery. There she actively
engages others in lengthy conversations about philosophy and
politics.
“When I got here for the first time, it was hard to get used to
living without my family,” she said. “At home, my family helped me do
everything and here I had to learn how to take care of myself. This
is especially hard for someone in a wheelchair.”
The volunteers come from all over Russia as well as Germany,
Switzerland, the Netherlands, Britain and the United States. Barber
is one of several volunteers who have lived in Svetlana for years and
have started families here. Others come for six months to a year.
Gamlet Saakyan, a volunteer from Armenia, has lived and worked on the
farm with his wife, Yelena, and his 5-year-old son, Ilya, since 2000,
and he said the experience has been priceless. “The great thing is my
son doesn’t notice the difference between villagers and co-workers,”
he said. “He treats everyone the same. It’s wonderful to see.”
The cheese workshop is run by Sven Dietsche from Freiburg, Germany,
who is fulfilling his year of compulsory alternative service to the
German military at Svetlana. Dietsche, who makes hard cheese, brinza
and softer, sweet tvorog with villager Yulia, acknowledged that he
was by no means an accomplished cheese maker when he arrived last
summer.
“I was introduced to the cheese-making process in one day, and the
next day I was on my own,” he said. “After a few months, Yulia came
to work with me. At first, she didn’t understand what was going on
and couldn’t remember the steps. Now she tells me what to do.”
Dietsche and several villagers have been going to a nearby market in
Volkhov on Sundays to sell their wares. “We weren’t very welcome
there at first,” Dietsche said. “We’d get a lot of stares and few
people stopped at our stand. Now we’ve become quite famous.”
Jennifer Davis / For MT
A bakery also operates in Camphill-Svetlana, a village designed to
allow each person to contribute to the best of his ability.

Russia’s disabled, who were reasonably well looked after in Soviet
times, have little support these days. Children with special needs
can be a huge burden for already financially strapped families, and
doctors often encourage parents to leave their children in the care
of understaffed and overcrowded internaty, the state-run institutions
where they receive little, if any, personal attention.
Svetlana does not advertise, so information about the village travels
by word of mouth. Interested families may approach Svetlana, but the
village is not able to accept any applicants from institutions.
“We’ve tried to take people from internats, but legally we have no
way to keep them,” Barber said. “Unfortunately, we’re in this
position where we can only take people from parents or guardians.”
Although volunteers usually come to Svetlana to work with people with
special needs or simply to experience life in a rural community, many
are also here to study biodynamic farming, which is practiced in all
Camphill villages. Biodynamics, a form of organic farming developed
by German philosopher Rudolf Steiner in 1924, views the farm as a
self-sustaining organism within the surrounding ecosystem.
“In traditional agriculture, the goal is to extract from the earth,”
Barber said. “In biodynamic farming, the goal is to heal the earth.
One of the great tragedies of our age is that we’ve lost a spiritual
connection to the land. Biodynamic farming re-establishes that
connection.
“In fact,” he added, “this is the same concept in our work with the
disabled. We hope that by helping these people with special needs we
will also heal ourselves.”
Although Svetlana got the land it occupies free of charge from
regional authorities, it mainly relies on donations from the Camphill
organization to keep going.
“We don’t currently pay rent, but this could end at any time,” Barber
said. “We don’t receive any money or subsidies from the government,
except for the villagers’ state payments of about 1,000 rubles [$34]
each per month.
“Foreign sponsors are increasingly asking why the Russian business
community cannot begin supporting such a project on their home soil,”
he said.
At the end of the day, the glue that holds Svetlana together is the
hardworking community itself, which treats each villager with respect
and kindness, Barber said. “One of the great secrets of Camphill is
that at the center of the community there are these people with
special needs, who have amazing social skills,” he said. “And that is
what somehow makes it possible for us all to live together.”

Hucknall Today, UK
July 2, 2004
Tourists arrive for Byron Festival but stars are missing
AN INFLUX of tourists is expected in Hucknall this weekend when the
seventh International Byron Festival gets under way.
The ten-day festival, which continues to rise in stature and prestige,
officially starts today when a town crier strolls through the streets
of the town centre.
And its 33 events, ranging from dances to dinners, films to flowers and
talks to tours, are expected to attract a host of Byron enthusiasts
from across the world.
But sadly, a freak accident has robbed the festival of three of its
crowd-pulling highlights. and two of its perennial stars.
Playwright Bill Studdiford, who was due to premiere one of his latest
works today, was injured when taking part in a rehearsal for a play
entitled ‘Shelley Rebel Heart’ at the Dawlish Festival in Devon on
Tuesday night.
The American slipped down a set of steps and was rushed to hospital
where it was discovered he had done serious damage to his knee and will
be in plaster for at least six weeks.
By his side is partner and actor Ian Frost, who is the main performer
in the three Byron Festival events.
It was hoped that Ian would be able to go it alone but the shows take
two people and no-one can fill Bill’s shoes.
And that means the cancellation of ‘Extraordinary Friends Byron And
Shelley’, which was scheduled for the Lovelace Theatre at Hucknall
Community Centre this evening.
Also axed is ‘Beppo’, a Venetian love story, written by Bill and
featuring Ian, that was scheduled for Newstead Abbey on Sunday
afternoon.
And the third event to get the chop is next Thursday’s second
performance of ‘Extraordinary Friends Byron and Shelley’, which was due
to be staged at Southwell Minster.
Ian has performed at all six previous festivals and has sent his and
Bill’s apologies. But he has promised to return to next year’s event.
Maureen Crisp, of the Newstead Abbey Byron Society, said: “Bill and Ian
have been wonderful supporters of the festival. It is such a pity but
these things happen.”
The festival has also lost its open-air rock concert, which was
scheduled for Hucknall Market Place tomorrow (12 midday until 6 pm).
Problems with an entertainment licence have forced co-ordinator John
Wilkinson to cancel the concert.
Said Mr Wilkinson: “We’ve had our setbacks but it is now a case of
turning the focus to all the other excellent events we have going on.”
A former Hucknall councillor, Mr Wilkinson claims the festival is the
most ambitious the town has staged.
Among the events scheduled for next Wednesday are poetry-writing
sessions that tempt locals to emulate Byron himself.
The free sessions, to be held at Hucknall Community Centre on Ogle
Street and the Watnall Road Community Centre, invite people to create
poems or short stories.
The Ogle Street session (2 pm to 4 pm) is also making easy-to-use
computers available, so that you can illustrate your poem with computer
design.
Says a spokeswoman: “You might want to write a verse for your child or
grandchild, using their name and making it personal to them, or you
might just want to illustrate your favourite verse.
“Here is one I wrote earlier: My name is Lynne; I work at college; But
this doesn’t mean I am full of knowledge; If, like me, you want to
rhyme; Mark in your diary this date and time”.
The Watnall Road session (1 pm to 4 pm), which is specifically aimed at
the over-50s, features local author Derek Fox, who has written two
books on Byron and who will be available to discuss poetry and help
anyone wanting to try writing something themselves.
The session also includes glass-painting and card-making, plus other
exhbitions, demonstrations and refreshments.
THE FULL PROGRAMME
TODAY
9.30 am – Traditional opening of the festival as a town crier strolls
through Hucknall town centre, including the Market Place.
7.30 pm – ‘Nothing To Wear’, fashion show and sale of quality clothing
at crazy prices (in aid of Hope Lea Project), Central Methodist Church,
£3. Tickets from 150 Watnall Road or the committee.
SATURDAY JULY 3
12 midday – Bellringers of Hucknall Parish Church will ring a peal.
12 midday – Poached salmon and real ale lunch, including a glass of a
selection of festival ales, Hucknall Community Centre, £4. Bookings in
advance only by ringing 0115 9529303.
7.30 pm – International concert. An evening of culture for all the
family, Hucknall Parish Church. Free of charge.
SUNDAY JULY 4
Annual open golf tournament for the Byron Cup, presented by Maureen
Crisp, at Leen Valley Golf Centre. For entry details, contact the
centre on 0115 9642037.
2.30 pm – ‘Chance To Dance’, a spectacular showcase from the students
of Hucknall-based Sarah Adamson School Of Dance, Lovelace Theatre, £3.
6 pm – ‘Robin Hood And The Sherwood Experience’. Return of the Common
Players to Hucknall Titchfield Park after their first open-air show
last year. Take a picnic. Free of charge.
MONDAY JULY 5
1.30 pm – ‘The Bad Lord Byron’, a rare chance to see the 1949 film,
starring Dennis Price, Byron Cineplex Cinema, £3.
2 pm – ‘With Great Pleasure’, music and poetry presented by Gwenda
Watkins and Gillian Berry, Gallery Restaurant and Millennium Garden,
Nottingham University, £6.50 (including afternoon tea). For tickets and
further information, contact Maureen Crisp on 0115 9664367.
6 pm – ‘Newstead And Its Owners’, a talk by Denis Hill that traces the
history of Newstead Abbey and its owners from its foundation to the
20th century, Hucknall Community Centre, £3.
7.30 pm – ‘Italian Night’, an evening of Italian food, wine and music,
Hucknall Community Centre, £4. Bookings in advance only by ringing 0115
9529303.
TUESDAY JULY 6
2.30 pm – ‘Strawberry Fayre’. The fruits of summer to be enjoyed in a
delicious afternoon of pleasure, Hucknall Community Centre, £3.
Bookings in advance only by ringing 0115 9529303.
2 pm to 4 pm – Heritage Bus Tour, taking a look at the heritage of
Hucknall and surrounding villages, starting from Hucknall Community
Centre. No charge but booking essential by ringing 0115 9529303.
7.15 pm – The Byron Dinner, including a talk by Edward Enfield,
entitled ‘Byron And The Elgin Marbles’, Hucknall Community Centre,
£10.50. For tickets and further information, contact Maureen Crisp on
0115 9664367.
WEDNESDAY JULY 7
10 am – Festival Health Walk, part of Hucknall’s Taking Steps project.
Meet at Hucknall Community Centre. Free of charge.
11 am – Evergreen Arts Group. Creative and visual performances by young
adults with learning difficulties, Watnall Road Baptist Church. Free of
charge.
2 pm to 4 pm – Arts And Crafts, exhibitions, demonstrations and
have-a-go, Watnall Road Community Centre. Free of charge.
2 pm to 4 pm – Poetry session, complete with use of computers, Hucknall
Community Centre, Ogle Street. Free of charge
7.30 pm – ‘Fawlty Towers Murder Mystery Night,’ including two-course
supper, presented by Ken Purslow, Hucknall Community Centre. Advance
bookings only. Tickets and further information from Maureen Crisp on
0115 9664367.
THURSDAY JULY 8
Visit to Southwell Minster. Contact Hucknall Community Centre on 0115
9529303 for further details.
10 am – Heritage Walk, a chance to look at Hucknall’s town-centre
heritage, including some well-known places and others not quite so well
known. Meet outside Hucknall Library. Free of charge.
FRIDAY JULY 9
6.30 pm to 8.30 pm – Heritage Bus Tour. A repeat of this popular tour,
starting from Hucknall Community Centre. Free of charge but booking
essential by ringing 0115 9529303.
12 midday – ‘A Tram Trip And A Thai’, a trip by tram to a location in
Basford providing wonderful Thai food. From Hucknall tram stop, £7.50
including tram fare. Bookings in advance only by ringing 0115 9529303.
7.30 pm – ‘A Poem And A Pint’, traditional Friday night festival event.
Go along and listen to or recite your favourite poems. Themes this year
include friendship, family and, of course, love, Hucknall Community
Centre, £3.
SATURDAY JULY 10
>From 10 am – Flower Festival, Seymour Road Baptist Church. A welcome
return after the success of last year’s festival, includes stalls.
Lunches available.
7.30 pm – Concert For Armenia, Hucknall Parish Church. Tribute to the
friendship agreement between the Lord Byron School in Armenia and
Hucknall’s Holgate Comprehensive School, including performances by
Armenian dancer Shake, Newstead Welfare Brass Band, Holgate and Lord
Byron School pupils, supported by Hucknall Rotary Club. At Hucknall
Parish Church, £5.
SUNDAY JULY 11
10 am – Boatswain Walk, a pleasant Sunday stroll for yourself and your
dog in memory of Byron’s dog, starting from Hucknall Community Centre.
Free of charge.
>From 10 am – Flower Festival, Seymour Road Baptist Church. Final day.
Free of charge.
11.30 am – Byron Festival Open Darts Championship, competing for the
Byron Trophy, donated by Coun John Wilmott (Lab), of Hucknall, at Royal
British Legion Social Club, Beardall Street. To enter and for further
details, contact Les Berridge on 0115 9528658.
3 pm – Dedication, Service And Concert. Dedication of a khatchkhar in
memory of the late Canon Fred Green, followed by a service and concert
of music and poetry from members of the Byron Society and students from
Holgate Comprehensive School and the Lord Byron School in Armenia. Free
of charge.
4 pm – Naming Ceremony. The official renaming of Hucknall Community
Centre in Ogle Street. Free of charge.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
Festivals Past, exhibition at Hucknall Library throughout the festival.
Exhibitions at Newstead Abbey. Ring 01623 455900 for further details.
Tours of Hucknall Parish Church, Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 12 midday
and 2 pm to 4 pm.
Festival lunches at Red Lion pub in Hucknall High Street.
Byron Festival Radio on air from June 28 to July 11. Frequency 97.5 FM.
Coverage in the Dispatch every Friday.

Armenian foreign minister believes Turkey wants better ties – Turkish TV
NTV television, Istanbul
1 Jul 04

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskankyan has said that in the brief
meeting he had with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the
NATO summit, he was convinced that Turkey wants to improve the
relations between the two countries. Commenting on the 10-minute
meeting he held with Erdogan, Oskanyan said: I believe that the
Turkish government sincerely wants a change towards the amelioration
of the relations with Armenia.
Oskanyan remarked that the issue of reinstating the rail transport
between Turkey and Armenia was discussed with Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul. On the subject of the Nagornyy Karabakh issue between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, Oskanyan said: Armenia will not accept
Turkey’s acting as an impartial mediator.
Oskanyan reported that with US officials, he discussed the intention
to veto the proposal to appoint Turkey as the term president of the
OSCE in 2007. The Armenian foreign minister expressed the belief that
the position of OSCE term president should be filled by a country that
has diplomatic relations with all member countries.

LRAPER Church Bulletin 27/06/2004
Armenian Patriarchate
TR-34130 Kumkapi, Ýstanbul
Licensee: The Revd. Fr. Drtad Uzunyan
Editors: The Revd.Dr.Krikor Damatyan, Deacon Vagharshag Seropyan
Press Spokesperson: Attorney Luiz Bakar
T: +90 (212) 517-0970
F: +90 (212) 516-4833
E-mail: [email protected]
Armenian Patriarch Meets U.S. President
On 27 June 2004, Sunday afternoon, President George W. Bush of the United
States of America had a meeting with the religious leaders of Turkey.
His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey,
accompanied by the Revd. Fr. Drtad Uzunyan, attended the meeting held at the
Hilton Hotel in Istanbul at the U.S. Embassy’s invitation.
Also present were His Excellency Ali Bardakoglu, Director of the Office of
Islamic Religious Affairs in Ankara; His Holiness Bartholomew I, Greek
Orthodox (Ecumenical) Patriarch of Istanbul; His Excellency Rav Itshak
Haleva, Chief Rabbi of Turkey; His Grace Philixinos, Metropolitan of the
Syriac Orthodox Church in Istanbul; His Excellency Mustafa Cagrici, Grand
Mufti of Istanbul; Mr. Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State; Mr. Eric
Edelman, U.S. Ambassador to Ankara; Dr. Condoleezza Rice, the President’s
National Security Advisor, and others.
The meeting was cordial and began with President Bush welcoming each guest
personally. The President, in his opening remarks, spoke of his appreciation
of Turkey’s being a mosaic of faiths and cultures, and how she presents a
good model for a country which is a secular democracy, though predominantly
Muslim.
In his exchange with the Armenian Patriarch, the President indicated his
awareness that His Beatitude had studied in the United States. In response,
Patriarch Mesrob said that he considers the United States his second home
after Istanbul, and therefore the visit of the President of the U.S. gave
him great pleasure.
The Patriarch also referred to America’s hospitality over the years since
the second half of the 19th century to hundreds of thousands of Armenians,
who had settled on the friendly shores of the New World. The President
fondly said that he thinks highly of the American Armenian community and
made a special reference to Mr. George Deukmejian, the 35th Governor of
California.
Speaking of the minority situation in Turkey, Patriarch Mesrob said that any
of the non-Muslim minorities in Turkey, or for that matter, for any ethnic
or national minority to exist anywhere, three types of institutions are
essential: First, places of worship to preserve religious heritage and to
nourish the spiritual life of the community, secondly, schools to teach
language and culture, and thirdly, foundations to fund religious and
educational activities and the personnel who enliven them. The minorities
in Turkey are attempting to maintain those institutions for the future and
well-being of their communities.
Patriarch Mesrob expressed his satisfaction that there was an on-going
inter-faith dialogue between the different religious establishments in
Turkey, and also a neighbourly dialogue of life among peoples of various
confessional communities.
Another subject Patriarch Mesrob touched on was the intermediary roles of
the minorities. He said that the communities have sometimes been in the
past, are ready today and will be so in the future to act as catalysts in
any peace undertaking in the region between Turkey and neighbouring
countries.
And finally the Patriarch said that being ministers of religion engaged in
spiritual edification, religious leaders try not to interfere or engage in
politics. However, certain occurences call for, if not political
involvement, at least a moral response to particular situations. Fully
supporting the initiative of the World Council of Churches called “the
Decade to Overcome Violence,” Patriarch Mesrob voiced the sadness and
disquiet of many believers of various faiths in Turkey who are daily
bombarded with terrible scenes of violence via the media. Such images come
daily from Palestine, the Sudan, Afghanistan and Iraq and other places in
the world. The Patriarch said he was deeply concerned with this because he
is worried that such occurrences may cause lasting differences between
various faiths and cultures.
President Bush thanked the Patriarch for his remarks, but on the issue of
violent images from Iraq, he emphatically iterated that he himself “felt
sick” by certain images from the prison in Baghdad. “That is not America or
Americans. That is not us. Believe me our feelings are mutual on this
matter. We will deal with those responsible under the rule of law. Those
kinds of actions are not permissible, because we are in Iraq for peace. We
mean peace.”
Other subjects touched on during the meeting of the President of the United
States with the religious leaders in Turkey were the following: the
hoped-for accommodation of the Turkish government to institutions of higher
learning that would train clergy for non-Muslim religions; the role of
religion in peace efforts in the region; that religions are essentially
peaceful and that they should be taught properly and not subjected to
politicization; the accession of Turkey to EU membership fully supported by
the religious communities in Turkey and their appreciation of the U.S.
President’s encouragement of that process.
Patriarch Mesrob presented the President with an album of the Armenian
churches in Turkey. The President gave the Patriarch a Steuben crystal bowl
with his insignia engraved on it.
The meeting ended with an opportunity given to the Turkish and international
press to photograph the company.
Patriarch Mesrob, before taking leave of the President, handed him a letter,
which said:
“Dear Mr. President,
It is with great pleasure that we welcome your visit to our country on the
occasion of the NATO summit here in Istanbul.
The Armenians of Turkey, constituting by far the largest Christian community
in this country, have long cherished, with affection and amity, the United
States of America, which, besides having a historic friendship and alliance
with Turkey, also has welcomed to its shores many of our kinsmen since the
second half of the 19th century.
It is because of these warm sentiments, that I feel able to express the
uneasiness we feel at the escalating level of violence which has been
spreading across the globe and which is especially pressing in the Middle
East region, where we also live.
I personally believe that you, Mr. Bush, as the president of a great country
that leads the world, have the authority to affect the course of events, and
this is why I would like to voice my anxiety to you.
War, terror, torture, embargo, marginalisation, defamation or
condescension…. Whatever form violence takes, it always leads to
consequences which are not in accord with human dignity. Instead it leaves
indellible scars in memories and generates lasting enmities between peoples.
Throughout history, there has never been an act of violence or retaliation
which has not harmed the innocent. Sadly, the consequence is usually that
violence begets more violence.
This is why, even when seeking to serve legitimate, higher ideals such as
establishing peace, upholding democracy or preventing terror, the resort to
violence, merely culminates in more pain and suffering to the innocent,
especially children.
Throughout history, when governments have resorted to force when challenged
by violence or even civil unrest, it often effectively became collective
punishments of whole nations or peoples. What has happened recently in
Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Sudan are clear examples. This cannot
be a portrayal of sublime sentiments and indeed, to many it is viewed as
revenge, a sentiment which cannot coexist with civilisation.
I believe that the United States of America and her President, have the
ability to preserve the values they struggle for without resorting to
violence in all its terrible diversity. It is sufficient to maintain their
trust in God, in their sense of vocation and ultimate potential for good.
Whenever we embrace violence we are already diminished and the high moral
and religious ideals to which we aspire are betrayed.
Mr. President, I can imagine to a certain extent the pressures that you must
be undergoing at present and therefore please be assured of my prayerful
support. May God be in all visions for world peace and may He protect us all
from losing our faith.
With my sincere good wishes,
MESROB II
Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul & All Turkey”

Xinhua, China
June 25 2004
Russian legislature ratifies European conventional forces treaty

2004-06-25 23:55:18
MOSCOW, June 25 (Xinhuanet) — Russia’s lower house of parliament
on Friday ratified the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty
(CFE), which regulates the deployment of heavy weapons across the
European continent.
The State Duma passed the treaty by a vote of 355 to 28 with two
abstentions, an Interfax news agency report said.
The amended accord could significantly reduce the deployment
ofwarplanes, tanks and other heavy non-nuclear weapons in European
nations as well as the United States and Canada. It would take effect
after ratification of the 30 signatory countries.
Under the treaty, Russia could have 6,350 tanks, 11,280
armoredpersonnel carriers, 6,315 artillery, 3,416 combat aircraft,
and 885 helicopter gunships.
Russia can also keep its weapons and military hardware in Armenia
and Ukraine under the treaty. Russian forces are expected to remain
in neighboring Georgia to a certain level even after a bilateral
agreement was signed.
The original CFE treaty was approved in 1990 by the 22 members of
the NATO and Warsaw Pact alliances.
An amended version of the treaty was signed in 1999 following the
collapse of former Soviet Union.

Le Point
24 juin 2004
Nice – Patrimoine vivant; Histoires de familles
AUTEUR: Christophe Courau
Le Bottin de Nice est un livre d’histoire. Les patronymes des grandes
familles, certaines établies depuis le Moyen Age, y côtoient des noms
de lignées immigrées du Piémont, réfugiées de Russie ou rapatriées
d’Algérie – sans parler des Français « de l’intérieur ». Autant de
tribus à convoquer pour raconter la saga de cette ville à part.
Ils sont tous niçois. Sacristain, médecin, employée municipale,
avocat à la retraite, ou responsable des chauffeurs de la ville,
chacun d’entre eux porte un nom illustre. Ce sont les descendants des
« consuls », ces quelque 340 familles qui ont dirigé Nice pendant
quatre siècles, du XVe au XVIIe.
La plupart de ces patronymes renommés figurent toujours dans le
bottin local.« Les consuls n’étaient pas confinés à un cercle social
» , observe Hervé Barelli, chargé de mission Patrimoine et Culture
régionale auprès du sénateur-maire. Celui qui se définit en souriant
comme« chargé des affaires autochtones » récuse toute idée de
dynasties.« S’il fallait vraiment caractériser ces familles, il
vaudrait mieux utiliser le mot de tribus , assure-t-il.On serait,
pour la plupart d’entre elles, bien incapable de retracer avec
certitude leurs liens avec les consuls qui portaient leur nom. Mis à
part certaines familles nobles, bien identifiées. » Mais une partie
de la noblesse locale est issue de la bourgeoisie :« Les bourgeois
qui ont bien servi les intérêts du prince de Savoie, chef de l’Etat
du comté de Nice jusqu’en 1860, ont été anoblis » , rappelle
l’historien.
Grands ancêtres
L’histoire a ainsi retenu le nom de la famille Peyre. Etablie à Nice
depuis au moins 1333, elle devient l’une des riches familles
marchandes du XVIe siècle. Le grand ancêtre s’appelle Guido. Il aura
quatre fils, dont les diverses branches participeront régulièrement à
la vie de la cité. Le fils aîné, Honoré, sera consul en 1756 et son
propre fils, Jean-Baptiste, le sera à son tour en 1610. Le deuxième
fils, Guido, sera trésorier de la ville entre 1569 et 1576. Parmi ses
descendants, on note un certain Pierre-Jean, docteur ès lois et
avocat au sénat de Nice, mais aussi Louis-François, consul en 1707,
ou encore Ange-Louis, coseigneur de Chteauneuf.
Le troisième fils de Guido, Lancelot, exercera la fonction d’avocat
et l’un de ses héritiers, Emmanuel Philibert, poursuivant la
tradition juridique de la famille, sera au XIXe siècle avocat général
du royaume de Savoie. Enfin, le dernier rejeton de Guido Peyre, Jean,
sera anobli en 1617. La nombreuse descendance de ce riche commerçant,
devenu marquis de Chteauneuf, donnera à de nombreuses reprises des
consuls à la ville. En 1828, le dernier descendant du marquisat
disparaît sans héritier. Le titre passera, de fille en neveu, jusqu’à
la famille de Cessole.
Noblesse savoyarde
Cette dernière famille est, elle aussi, issue du commerce. Joseph
Spitalieri, négociant, s’établit à Nice au début du XVIIIe siècle.
Son fils, Honoré-François, sera consul à deux reprises et acquiert le
fief comtal de Cessole, dans le Piémont. La famille Spitalieri de
Cessole restera active dans la vie politique niçoise tout au long du
XIXe siècle. En 1937, le dernier des Cessole, Victor, fera don de sa
bibliothèque à la ville.
Parmi ceux qui ont eu la chance d’être anoblis par les Savoie avant
1860 figurent aussi les Avigdor. Cette famille d’origine juive
s’installe à Nice au XVIIe siècle. Isaac Samuel, né à Nice en 1694,
démarre un florissant commerce d’étoffe. Un siècle plus tard, Avigdor
Aîné et Fils constitue l’une des plus importantes sociétés de négoce
de Méditerranée. Les Avigdor se lancent alors dans la banque et
créent une filature de soie.
Un Avigdor deviendra officier municipal en 1800, puis consul de
Prusse. Son fils, Moïse-Jules, député au parlement de Savoie, sera
anobli par le duc de Savoie. La dernière représentante de la famille,
qui habitait encore New York il y a une dizaine d’années, n’oubliera
pas sa ville d’origine : elle a légué sa collection de tableaux au
musée des Beaux-Arts de Nice.
Nouveaux notables
Avec le rattachement définitif du comté de Nice à la France, la
plupart des grandes maisons aristocratiques partent pour l’Italie, où
le duc de Savoie va devenir roi d’Italie. Ne restent à Nice que des
familles bourgeoises, dont quelques-unes seront anoblies par Napoléon
III. Peu importe. Au milieu du XIXe siècle, la particule n’est plus
indispensable à la notabilité.
Ainsi, François Maulausséna (1844-1882), fils de notaire devenu
avocat puis membre du conseil communal en 1855, choisira de se
rallier à la France. Devenu maire, puis député, il s’efforce de faire
valoir Nice auprès des autorités parisiennes. La fin de l’Empire le
prend par surprise et Malausséna démissionne. Son fils reprendra la
tradition en devenant à son tour député.
Une simple recherche dans l’annuaire du nom de Malausséna donne
aujourd’hui encore 58 réponses pour la seule ville de Nice. De même,
le nom de Baréty est encore porté le long de la baie des Anges.
Alexandre Barety (1844-1918) exerce la profession de médecin. Il
fonde l’Academia nissarda, avant d’entrer en politique. Il finira
vice-président du conseil général. Son fils Léon Barety (1883-1971)
est, lui, président du conseil général des Alpes-Maritimes. Député,
plusieurs fois ministre, il plaidera inlassablement pour l’expansion
française outre-mer.
« Définir aujourd’hui les grandes familles niçoises reste très
compliqué » , souffle Hervé Barelli. Selon l’historien, celles
d’avant 1860 se sont alliées sans difficultés aux immigrants
italiens. Ces « vieux Niçois » se regroupent au sein de l’Academia
nissarda, dont les membres doivent prouver que leurs parents et leurs
grands-parents étaient niçois. Principalement catholiques, ils se
retrouvent aussi au sein d’associations religieuses comme
l’archiconfrérie de la Sainte-Croix (les pénitents blancs). Quant à
la présence israélite, elle a toujours été importante à Nice.« Au
départ, elle est principalement constituée des juifs chassés de
France ou d’Espagne qui se sont installés ici pour fuir les
persécutions. Aujourd’hui, la grande majorité d’entre eux sont des
rapatriés d’Afrique du Nord » , explique le chargé de mission. Malgré
une présence ancienne, peu de Russes sont devenus des notables
niçois.
C’est à peine si l’on compte un docteur, Michel Rosanoff, dont une
rue rappelle l’attachement à la ville.
Arméniens et Italiens
En revanche, les 2 000 à 3 000 familles arméniennes implantées dans
le quartier de la Madeleine se sont assimilés rapidement aux
immigrants italiens. Ils partageaient leurs conditions économiques
difficiles et se sont mis à parler lalengua nissart . Plus tard, les
pieds-noirs, qui viendront s’installer en grand nombre, pèseront d’un
poids politique et social non négligeable dans la vie de la cité. On
n’oubliera pas non plus la grande diaspora corse, toujours importante
en ville.« Nice a longtemps été l’université la plus proche de Corse,
avant la création récente de Corte » , rappelle Hervé Barelli.
Mais Nice est aussi peuplée de « Français de l’intérieur », attirés
par la douceur de vivre de la Côte d’Azur. Une autre tribu bien
difficile à cerner. La maison des provinces, dans le vieux Nice,
regroupe d’ailleurs une vingtaine d’associations de néo-Niçois venus
des quatre coins de France, Bretons ou Berrichons de Nice…« Puisque
ces associations continuent d’exister, peut-être que ces gens ne se
considèrent pas comme des Niçois à part entière… » , s’interroge
Hervé Barelli.

PRESS RELEASE
Canadians For Sustainable Development In Armenia (CFSDIA)
Antoine S. Terjanian, Coordinator
5, Nicol Street
Ottawa, CANADA
Tel: 613-748-0676
Fax: 613-748-0676
E-mail: [email protected]
CAMPAIGN TO GET CANADIAN HELP FOR ARMENIA
Ottawa, June 23, 2004 – Canadians For Sustainable Development In
Armenia (CFSDIA) has launched the second phase of a campaign to
persuade the Canadian Development Agency (CIDA), an agency of the
Canadian Federal Government in charge of Canadian foreign aid, to
reverse a 2003 decision to terminate bilateral aid to Armenia. “The
CFSDIA is mobilizing support among all Armenian-Canadians concerned
about the future of Armenia. A non-partisan group, CFSDIA’s 23
workgroup volunteers come from all sides of the politico-religious
spectrum and are located in Canada’s five major urban centers” said
Antoine Terjanian, coordinator of the workgroup.
Armenia is enduring dire economic circumstances. Over 55% of the
population live below the poverty line and unemployment is similarly
very high. Yet CIDA has cut the meagre allocation it had for Armenia
even before the completion of the Paul Martin Government’s foreign
policy review scheduled for this fall. “All informed
Armenian-Canadians are intent on doing their utmost to ensure our
government helps Armenia in this very difficult period. We are
confident that Armenian-Canadians mobilised for this initiative during
the closing stretch of the federal elections on June 28 can make a
difference” said Mr. Terjanian.
During the first phase of this campaign, leaders of Armenian
organizations in Canada, from all sides of the politico-religious
spectrum, sent letters to Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, urging
him to reverse the CIDA decision. Federal Cabinet Ministers were also
approached individually. “So far our concerns have not been answered”
said Mr. Terjanian. CFSDIA has therefore decided to make public the
absence of a Canadian bilateral aid program to Armenia. “We have
called on all Armenian Canadians to become active during this election
campaign. …Armenian-Canadians are approaching candidates to express
concern for Canada’s lack of bilateral help to Armenia in these
extremely difficult times” said Mr. Terjanian. Similarly
Armenian-Canadians and friends of Armenia in Canada are being urged to
write similar letters to the “Prime Minister, Parliament Hill,
Ottawa”.
Most important, we are urging all Armenian-Canadians to vote in this
important election.

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
June 23, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC REPORTING INCLUDES TERM: “ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”
Turkish Protests Fail to Overturn Editorial Policy
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly commended National Geographic
magazine for continuing to characterize as “genocide,” the events of 1915 in
its July issue, thereby rejecting Turkish accusations of bias following a
22-page report in its March issue entitled, “Armenia Reborn.”
In an introductory note to its “Forum” section, the editors said the March
article and photos, “inspired more than 1,600 letters – the most mail
elicited by any one story in the past five years,” and published four
responses including a joint letter from Armenian Assembly Board of Trustees
Chairman Hirair Hovnanian and Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian.
The editors also reported that the magazine received “hundreds” of positive
letters from the Armenian community.
The Assembly letter said in part:
“[Armenian Reborn] captured the essence of the Armenian identity
historically and the values that animate our people today. As for the
cataclysmic event in our past – the Armenian genocide under cover of World
War I – National Geographic has not only told the truth, but is also in good
company.”
Armenian Assembly Executive Director Ross Vartian, along with Public Affairs
Director David Zenian and ANI Director Dr. Rouben Adalian, also expressed
appreciation and praise for the magazine report during a face-to-face
meeting with Washington editors in March.
The magazine’s last major report on Armenia was published in 1978.
In addition to the subject of the genocide, “Armenia Reborn,” written by
Frank Viviano and photographed by Alexandra Avakian, looks at the 3,000 year
history of Armenians and leads up to current events including independence,
the 1988 earthquake and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
But it was the magazine’s coverage of the Armenian Genocide and by
extension, Turkey-Armenia relations, which sparked a Turkish outcry. Both
the Turkish government and Turkish lobby in the United States voiced their
criticism, mounting a worldwide letter-writing campaign challenging
accuracies in the story. The publishers of the magazine’s Turkish language
edition excluded “Armenia Reborn” from their March issue.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
NR#2004-060
Editor’s Note: Below is the published text of the Armenian Assembly letter
to National Geographic editors.
March 12, 2004
William L. Allen
Editor in Chief
National Geographic
1145 17th Street
Washington, DC 20036.
Dear Sir:
The article captured the essence of the Armenian identity historically and
the values that animate our people today. As for the cataclysmic event in
our past – the Armenian Genocide under cover of World War I – NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHIC has not only told the truth, but is also in good company. One
hundred and twenty-six Holocaust and Genocide scholars signed a petition on
March 7, 2000, calling the Armenian genocide “an incontestable historical
fact.” As recently as February 2003, the International Center for
Transitional Justice concluded that what happened to the Armenians includes
“all the elements of the crime of genocide … and legal scholars as well
as historians, politicians, journalists and other people would be justified
in continuing to so describe them.” The “controversy” today lies squarely
with the Turkish government as it continues to attempt to coerce the world
to be complicit in its denial. Turkey’s aspiration to be fully accepted as a
full member of European society will not be realized without facing its own
history – just as coming to terms with the destruction of Native Americans
and the stain of slavery made America what it is today: more humane and
just.
Sincerely,
Hirair Hovnanian
Chairman, Board of Trustees
Anthony Barsamian
Chairman, Board of Directors
Armenian Assembly of America

EURASEC A STRONG INCENTIVE TO RESTORE BROKEN TIES, ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAYS
ArmenPress
June 18 2004
ASTANA, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS; Speaking at the session of the Inter-State
Council of the Eurasian Economic Community (EURASEC) that opened
in Kazakhstan capital Astana today here, Armenian president Robert
Kocharian said EURASEC is a strong incentive to restore the broken ties
and build a cooperation of quite a new quality. He said the outcome of
this cooperation will be higher economic growth rates of its member
countries and higher living standards of their population. Kocharian
was speaking, as an observer, an international conference here,
titled Eurasian Integration-New Development Trends and Globalization
Challenges.
According to Armenian president, apart from playing a significant
role in political and economic stability of this region, EURASEC
is a weighty component of the regional security. “Having in mind
the diversity of this region, effective models of inter-ethnic and
inter-faith dialogue may be developed here,” he said, adding that no
country can conduct an effective economic policy in isolation.
In a reference to the ongoing political and economic reforms in
Armenia Kocharian said the great majority of problems, typical of
all transitional countries, were surmounted. “Armenia’s economy is
shifting toward dynamic and sustainable development and our focus is
on entrepreneurial initiatives, market mechanisms and competition,”
he said, citing the latest years’ steady economic growth rates of
12 percent.
Kocharian also noted that the conflicts in the South Caucasus remain
major obstacles to development of its countries. “As advocates of
regional cooperation we believe that deeper economic integration
processes will help regulate these conflicts and build stability and
peace,” he said. President Kocharian has arrived in Astana to attend
a summit of heads of states of Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO).
The EURASEC session’s agenda has about 20 items. These include the
coordination of positions at the negotiations for accession to the
World Trade Organization, the implementation of the basic orientations
of the earlier approved fundamentals of the EURASEC cross-border
(cooperation) policy, a draft agreement on cooperation on the markets
of securities, and EURASEC interaction in the development of water
and energy resources in the catchments areas of the Amu-Darya and
Syr-Darya rivers.