Author: Karapetian Hovik

Azeri envoy to India to focus on improving economic ties

ANS TV, Baku
7 Nov 04

[Presenter] Azerbaijan’s newly-appointed ambassador to India, Tamerlan
Qarayev, is expected to submit his credentials to the Indian president
today. Mr Qarayev said before his departure to India that he had
already resolved financial problems pertaining to the opening of the
embassy.

[Correspondent over video of scenes in India] Azerbaijan should
reconsider its relations with India. The reason is that bilateral
economic and commercial relations are at a very low
level. Azerbaijan’s newly-appointed ambassador to India, Tamerlan
Qarayev, says that it is possible to hope for relatively increased
cooperation after the opening of the embassy in that country.

[Tamerlan Qarayev speaking at a news conference] Our economic
relations are still not at the satisfactory level, and one of the main
tasks the [Azerbaijani] president has set us and the embassy is to
expand and deepen economic relations. As for relations, after the
embassy opens and starts operating there, we will try to maintain good
relations.

[Correspondent] Mr Qarayev also said that he had already been to India
once and had conducted consultations about the premises of the
embassy.

[Qarayev] After that, I returned and resolved some financial issues
here. I am now leaving and from now on, there are certain ideas to
rent an office and a residence in the future. Two of my employees have
already started working there. The remaining employees will go there
at the beginning of the next year.

[Correspondent] Unfortunately, Armenia opened its embassy in India
before Azerbaijan: it has had an embassy there for five years now. But
Qarayev thinks that the Azerbaijani lobby will become stronger with
the opening of the embassy there and work will be carried out at least
to make up lost ground.

[Passage omitted: repeating the same ideas]

Ayaz Mirzayev and Emil Babaxanov for ANS.

OVERCOME PROVINCIALISM

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
05 Nov 04

The new academic year will be a turning point for the Institute of
Applied Arts after Gyurjian. Rector Youri Hovhannissian said the
institute adopts the system of higher education adopted almost
everywhere, as well as in Armeniaand Karabakh. However, the rector
mentioned, during the transition the peculiarities of the institute
must be taken into account. Certain courses will be shortened, others
enlarged. For the adequate implementation of this processthey invited
from Yerevan experienced designer, member of the international Union
of Designers and the Union of Designers of Armenia, founding director
of `Anahit Shafarian’ Ltd. Anahit Shafarian. Anahit cooperated with
the institute in the past as well, but now when the institute is
facing such a serious task, the help of the specialist is vitally
necessary. Mrs. Shafarian follows the lessons in all subjects, her
observations and suggestions are discussed by the arts council and
only then the final variant of the syllabus is confirmed. At her
suggestion the direction of the institute used their right to change
partlythe obligatory curriculum (by 5 per cent) and introduced 2 new
subjects: the study of colours and art design. Approaches to the
traditional subjects were reconsidered. Certain subjects, such as
technical modelling which used to be studied superficially now will be
studied profoundly. According to Anahit Shafarian, the institute has
the right to use individual syllabuses, therefore the syllabuses are
considered presently, and the history of fashion design is also
included, which will use information from Russian and international
periodicals, such as `International Textiles’, `Official’. Speaking
about the reasons for fundamental changes, the rector of the institute
said, `Frankly speaking I am not satisfied with what we have achieved
during the existence of the institute. Although it is not too
little. The evidence to this is the full halls during the summer
defiles of our graduates. Recognizing the requirements of modern
business we set a goal for ourselves to raise the level of our
professionalism according to international standards. I am not afraid
to say that we must step out of provincialism.’

SUSANNA BALAYAN.
05-11-2004

Armenian paper unruffled by Bush’s election victory

Novoye Vremya, Yerevan
4 Nov 04

The elections in the USA have helped the Armenian diaspora in this
country to demonstrate power of its political potential.

A candidate for presidency supported by the Armenian diaspora of the
USA was defeated. Will [Senator] John Kerry’s defeat have an impact on
relations of the Armenian diaspora leaders with the White House?

Ethnic Armenian members of the Republican Party, who despite their
party affiliation have campaigned for the Democrats, have been
concerned about this from the very beginning. A 1996 scenario was
actually repeated when all the Armenians of the USA openly supported
the Republican candidate, Bob Dole, who was competing with Bill
Clinton re-elected for the second term.

That time the head of the White House did not take revenge on the
Armenians. No special problems occurred. So, I think we should not be
scared that the Republican administration will remind the leadership
of the Armenian organizations of their “disloyalty”. [US President]
George Bush was ignoring the interests of his ethnic Armenian citizens
during his first tenure. For this reason, anything would hardly change
after his re-election. It would not be worse than it is now.

Despite John Kerry’s defeat, these elections may, nevertheless, be
called a small victory of the Armenians. The point is that the
Armenian organizations managed to demonstrate their powerful political
potential to the US establishment. The Armenians have never managed to
mobilize such a huge financial and human resources for the
elections. It may be described as a coincidence, but the fact is that
Kerry won an impressive victory in the states where the Armenian
organizations had the strongest position (California, Massachusetts,
Illinois, Pennsylvania).

The Armenians supported John Kerry realizing that his rival had more
chances to win, as the powerful administrative resources backed the
latter. Experience shows that the campaigning against the acting
president is often unsuccessful. But pro-Armenian candidates used to
compete with the acting presidents. This occurred at the 1996
elections as well, the outcome of which disappointed us. But in that
case it was more important to maintain adherence to principles. From
this viewpoint, the Armenians won as well.

The elections to the Senate and the House of Representatives were held
along with the presidential elections on Sunday [as published]. The
Armenians have always attached more importance to the Congress rather
than the [presidential] administration as it is more difficult to
influence the former. John Kerry’s defeat could be compensated by
success of the pro-Armenian congressmen and senators.

The seats of a third of the senators and of all 435 members of the
House of Representatives were contested. The majority of the so-called
Armenian group of the Congress “renewed” their mandates and will
continue the legislative activity. The average index of the acting
congressmen’s re-election is about 85 per cent. At previous elections,
92 per cent of the “Armenian group” members “renewed” their
mandates. An outcome is not known yet. On the eve of the elections the
Armenian Assembly of America and the Armenian National Committee of
America disseminated the list of candidates whose candidacies were
recommended for support. Their purpose was to preserve the current
number of the pro-Armenian congressmen (there are 133 members in the
“Armenian group” now).

[Passage omitted: reiteration]

Opposition Again Blames Kocharian For 1999 Parliament Attack
By Hrach Melkumian and Ruzanna Khachatrian 27/10/2004 12:21

Radio Free Europe, Czech
27 Oct. 2004

The opposition Artarutyun (Justice) alliance rallied several thousand
supporters on Tuesday to mark the fifth anniversary of a shock
terrorist attack on the Armenian parliament and again hold President
Robert Kocharian responsible for it.

Eight officials, including then Prime Vazgen Sarkisian and parliament
speaker Karen Demirchian, were shot dead on October 27, 1999 moments
after five gunmen burst into the assembly and sprayed it with bullets.
Artarutyun, Armenia’s largest opposition group, is led by Demirchian’s
son Stepan and Sarkisian’s brother Aram. “Kocharian and [Defense
Minister] Serzh Sarkisian are directly responsible not only for
not preventing the October 27 crime but also obstructing the search
for its masterminds and covering up the crime,” the bloc said in a
statement read out to the demonstrators.

“A precedent of usurping power through terrorism was created in
Armenia,” the statement said, reiterating implicit opposition
allegations that Kocharian had a hand in the parliament killings.

“Practically speaking, [the shootings] made Kocharian’s rule
uncontrolled and laid the foundations of the clan-based system and
dictatorship in the country,” charged Albert Bazeyan, a senior member
of Artarutyun.

Such allegations accompanied an official investigation into the crime
and the subsequent trial of its perpetrators led by Nairi Hunanian,
a former journalist. Hunanian, who blamed the late Sarkisian for
widespread corruption and poverty in Armenia, and the four other
gunmen were sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2003.

Hunanian insisted throughout the nearly three-year trial that the
decision to seize the National Assembly was entirely his, denying
that more powerful forces were behind the plot. However, his final
court speech, cut short by the presiding judge, was more ambiguous
in that regard.

Kocharian, Serzh Sarkisian and their political allies have repeatedly
denied any involvement in the parliament massacre. The Armenian
law-enforcement authorities, for their part, say they have done their
best to solve the crime and punish the guilty — a claim strongly
disputed by relatives of the assassinated leaders.

“The authorities have done everything to cover up the case,” Stepan
Demirchian told RFE/RL. “The trial did not dispel the suspicions
existing among the people. On the contrary, it deepened them.

The Artarutyun supporters, some of them carrying pictures of the
assassinated leaders and wearing white T-shirts with “No to Terrorism”
written on them, marched to the parliament building in central Yerevan.
The march was not sanctioned by the municipal authorities.

About 60 demonstrators, most of them Artarutyun leaders were allowed
to enter the parliament compound and lay flowers at a memorial
to the attack victims. They were joined there by several dozen
pro-government parliamentarians led by speaker Artur Baghdasarian. In
an ensued speech, Baghdasarian urged Armenian political factions to
“consolidate against evil” and make sure that the parliament attack
case is “fully solved.”

Jerusalem’s rabbis asked to preach religious tolerance after bishop spit on
By LAURIE COPANS

Yahoo News

Tue Oct 26, 4:10 PM ET

JERUSALEM (AP) – An Israeli chief rabbi held an unprecedented
meeting Tuesday with Christian clergy in Jerusalem in an effort to
ease tensions after an Orthodox Jew spat at an Armenian bishop near
a holy site in the Old City.

Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, who sat at the head of a table surrounded
by clerics with gold crosses, black robes and silver staffs, denounced
any attacks on religious clergy in Israel.

“As sons of Abraham, we are brothers,” Metzger said. “We denounce
any act that is meant to degrade religious people.”

The meeting was called after the Oct. 10 incident in which a Jewish
seminary student spit on an Armenian archbishop carrying a cross in
Jerusalem, sparking a fist fight that damaged the cleric’s medallion.

Many of the 14 church representatives at the meeting Tuesday complained
that the incident was just one of dozens of similar attacks every year.

“Unfortunately this incident was not an isolated incident,” Armenian
Bishop Aris Shirvanian said. “Quite frequently we suffer some kind
of indignity … at least once a week.”

Shirvanian said Israeli rabbis needed to do a better job of educating
their followers not to participate in such attacks.

Metzger promised to ask rabbis in the Old City to give sermons on
religious tolerance. An Interior Ministry official said Jerusalem
police understood the importance of cracking down on anti-Christian
behaviour among Orthodox Jews.

Although officially relations between Jewish and Christian clergy
are good in Jerusalem, tensions sometimes escalate over what church
leaders contend is a disregard by Israel for their interests.

In a sign of the seriousness of the spitting incident, Tuesday’s
meeting was the first time in years a chief rabbi had met with so
many Christian clergy, said Efrat Orbach, a spokeswoman for Metzger.

In a sign of their excitement over the meeting, many church
representatives took pictures throughout. The gathering was initiated
by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, which was
founded by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, who moved to Israel from Chicago
in 2001.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fund for Armenian Relief
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Edina N. Bobelian
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

October 25, 2004
____________________

FAR 2004 YOUNG PROFESSIONALS LAUNCH A JOB TRAINING PROGRAM

To empower Armenia’s workforce and give people the tools they need to
survive in a challenging market place, the FAR 2004 Young Professionals
decided to establish a new program to help Armenia’s economic
development. Through FAR, the Young Professionals Job Training Program
will place able-bodied Armenians in three- to six-month internships to
learn marketable skills and gain on-the-job experience.

The idea for this program crystallized during a layover in London’s
Heathrow airport on the group’s return to the U.S. after a two-week
discovery of Armenia and Karabagh. As they reminisced, the Young
Professionals developed a plan. They had been moved by what they had
witnessed in the Homeland – the Young Professionals were driven from
site to site, allowing them to observe the socioeconomic conditions of
people living outside of Yerevan – and wanted to make a difference in
the lives of ordinary Armenians.

To help raise the standard of living in Armenia, where more than half
the population lives in poverty, the Young Professionals reasoned that
income-generating jobs are required. As families earn salaries, they
would be able to afford essential goods and services (a household’s
basic needs), raising them above the poverty line. This spending would
help stimulate Armenia’s economy, begetting opportunities for more jobs.

While they hope to achieve a positive change throughout the country, the
2004 Young Professionals remain pragmatic. They have established a
reasonable goal for the first year: place 10 Armenians in short-term
internships where they will have exposure to specialized training in
vital industries, develop contacts in local trades, benefit from
mentoring relationships, and receive a nominal monthly stipend.
Thereafter, the Job Training Program will be expanded.

The FAR 2004 Young Professionals will be hosting several fundraisers to
help finance the multi-year project. The first event is a Fall Happy
Hour on November 5, 2004 at Light NYC, located at 125 East 54th Street
(between Park & Lexington Avenues), New York, NY. Visit FAR’s website
for more information () and to make a tax-deductible
contribution online. Please specify that your donation is for the Young
Professionals Job Training Program.

FAR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New York,
with offices in Yerevan, Gyumri, and Stepanakert. For 15 years, FAR has
implemented various relief, development, social, educational, and
cultural projects valued at more than $250 million. It is the
preeminent relief and development organization operating there.

For more information on FAR and the Young Professionals Job Training
Program, contact us at 630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016; telephone
(212) 889-5150, fax (212) 889-4849; , [email protected].

— 10/25/04

# # #

Civil Georgia, Georgia
Oct 24 2004

Guns Found at Concert Attended by Georgian, Armenian Presidents

Georgian Security Ministry officials found a sniper rifle and a
Kalashnikov assault rifle late on October 23 in the concert hall in
downtown Tbilisi, one hour prior to the show, which was later
attended by the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and his
visiting Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian.

Security Ministry officials say that the investigation in ongoing and
decline to comment who is the owner of the guns.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – October 21, 2004

WE MOURN THE PASSING OF
VARKIS MARKARIAN
It was with great sorrow that the Eastern Prelacy announced the death of a
beloved son of the Armenian church and nation, Varkis Markarian of Cranston,
Rhode Island. Mr. Markarian died last Friday, October 15, at his home
following a short illness.

Mr. Markarian was a Prince of Cilicia, Delegate to the World Assembly,
Delegate to the National Representative Assembly, Pillar of the Prelacy, and
board member of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, Providence, Rhode
Island.

His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan officiated at the national funeral
services, which took place at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Providence on Monday
and Tuesday, October 18 and 19.

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his wife of 55 years, Mrs. Lillian
Markarian and their three children and six grandchildren.

ORDINATIONS IN LEBANON
The ordination of two married priests took place at St. Nishan Cathedral,
Beirut, Lebanon, last Saturday and Sunday, October 16 and 17. The ordination
ceremony was officiated by Bishop Kegham Khacherian, Prelate of Lebanon.

Deacon Serop Terterian was given the new name of Nareg. Deacon Vatche
Bozoyan was given the new name of Hovnan. Both clergymen will serve the
Eastern Prelacy.

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL VISIT
WASHINGTON, DC PARISH THIS WEEKEND
Archbishop Oshagan will travel to the Washington, DC area this weekend, to
be with the parish of Sourp Khach Armenian Apostolic Church in Bethesda,
Maryland. On Saturday evening he will attend a banquet in honor of the
recently retired Archpriest Fr. Khoren Habeshian, who served the Sourp Khach
parish for many years.

On Sunday, His Eminence will officiate at the Divine Liturgy.

REMINDER: TWO SEMINARS THIS WEEKEND
Two seminars in the New England region will take place this weekend. The We
Are Family retreat, sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council,
is set for Saturday, October 23, at the E. Kent Swift Estate in
Whitinsville, Massachusetts.

The New England Seminar for Educators, sponsored by the Armenian National
Education Committee, will take place Saturday, October 23, in Providence,
hosted by the Mourad School. The seminar will focus on Teaching Armenian and
History and Teaching Methods for the Non-Armenian Speaker.

BOOK FAIR THIS WEEKEND
The annual Prelacy Book Fair will take place at Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461
Bergen Blvd., Ridgefield, New Jersey, this weekend, Saturday and Sunday
October 23 and 24.

Many titles, Armenian and English, will be available for purchase along with
videos, CDs, and gift items-including many that recently arrived from
Armenia.

ARMENIAN CHURCHES SPORTS ASSOCIATION
BEGINS SEASON THIS SUNDAY
The Armenian Churches Sports Association (ACSA) will begin its 38th year
this Sunday. The ACSA started with senior boys and later added leagues for
junior boys, girls, and men. It now consists of 25 teams with more than 250
participants.

Churches participating include: Sts. Vartanantz (Ridgefield, New Jersey);
St. Sarkis (Douglaston, New York); St. Illuminator’s Cathedral (New York
City); St. Vartan Cathedral (New York City); St. Thomas (Tenafly, New
Jersey); St. Leon (Fairlawn, New Jersey); St. Mary (Livingston, New Jersey);
and the Armenian Presbyterian Church (Paramus, New Jersey).

PILLARS GATHER AT PRELACY
Pillars of the Prelacy from the Mid-Atlantic area and beyond gathered at the
Prelacy for a reception hosted by the Prelate in appreciation for the
Pillars support of Prelacy programs.

In a message to the Pillars, Archbishop Oshagan noted: When we think of a
pillar we think of abstract words like strength, support, power and force.
When we give it life and use it as a human adjective we think of words like
trustworthy, reliable, sensible and dependable. This is exactly how we
perceive you as a Pillar of the Prelacy.

His Eminence explained how the Pillars program helps the Prelacy in its
mission. In conclusion, he said, I think of the Prelacy as a home, not just
an office. And it is your home also. This evening is our way of extending to
you the recognition and thanks you so richly deserve.

ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN
REMEMBERED IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY
The Life and Work of the late Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian were remembered in
New York and New Jersey last week. On Friday, a commemorative event took
place at St. Peter Church in New York City, organized by the Hamazkayin of
New York and under the auspices of Archbishop Oshagan. Main speakers were
the Honorable Judge Sarkis Teshoian and Dr. Ashot Melkonian, Director of the
Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences in Armenia. Both men spoke
eloquently about Archbishop Mesrob from their perspective. Both worked
closely with Mesrob Srpazan at different times and places. In his
address, Archbishop Oshagan focused on the twenty years Mesrob Srpazan
served as Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy. He described how Mesrob Srpazan
gave the Prelacy its innovative image in its mission and service to the
people.

On Sunday, a similar event took place at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey, following church services. Organized by the Hamazkayin of New
Jersey, the event featured Dr. Ashot Melkonian. A special video presentation
about the late Archbishop’s life and works, was shown. The video was also
part of the program on Friday in New York.

FOREIGN MINISTER OF KARABAGH
VISITS PRELACY OFFICE
The Foreign Minister of Nagorno Karabagh, Mr. Ashot Ghoulian, came to the
Prelacy offices this afternoon, where he visited with Archbishop Oshagan.
His Eminence and Mr. Ghoulian shared a pleasant exchange of ideas and
concerns.

DISCOVERY OF THE CROSS
COMMEMORATED THIS SUNDAY
This Sunday, October 24, the Armenian Church commemorates the Discovery of
the Cross (Giut Khatch).

Empress Helena, mother of Constantine, was a devout Christian. While in
Jerusalem she wanted to find the True Cross. She went to Golgotha (Calvary),
which at this time had become an obscure and neglected place. The Empress
ordered the excavation on the spot of the Crucifixion. Three wooden crosses
were found. In order to distinguish the True Cross, the three crosses were
successively placed on the body of a youth who had just died. When one of
the crosses was placed on him, the young man came to life. This was
determined to be the True Cross. The exact burial spot of Christ was also
found and in subsequent years the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built on
that spot in 335. The church was built around the excavated hill of the
Crucifixion and was actually three connected churches built over three
different holy sites. It was destroyed by fire in 614 when the Persians
invaded Jerusalem. Subsequently it was rebuilt at various times. The current
dome dates from 1870.

Several denominations cooperate (not always harmoniously) in the
administration and maintenance of the church and grounds. The three
appointed when the Crusaders held Jerusalem are the Greek Orthodox, the
Armenian Apostolic, and Roman Catholic churches. These three remain the
primary custodians. Within the complex there are chapels and shrines to
which many Christian denominations have rights of access. An agreement
regulates times and places of worship for each Church. A neutral Muslim
neighbor family has been the custodian of the keys for centuries. The
Church, which is within the walled Old City of Jerusalem, is a revered and
important destination for pilgrims.

THANK YOU READERS
Today we pause to thank you, dear readers, for your many insightful and
laudatory comments about Crossroads. We here at Crossroads love to hear from
you; it makes our task that much more enjoyable and meaningful. Some of you
have given us some good tips that we hope to incorporate sometime in the
near future. Write to us at [email protected].

FINALLY.
If you are lucky enough to be living in an area where true autumn is in
bloom, take the time this weekend to enjoy the beauty of the trees bedecked
in their emblazoned garb before their deep winter sleep. Magnificent!

Visit our website at

Jerusalem Post
Oct 20 2004

Vatican slams disrespect for religion
By ASSOCIATED PRESS

VATICAN CITY

A joint Jewish-Vatican commission on Tuesday condemned acts of
vandalism against and disrespect for religious people in Jerusalem,
citing the recent assault on an Armenian archbishop by a yeshiva
student. “Jerusalem has a sacred character for all the children of
Abraham,” said the statement issued during a meeting of the Holy
See’s Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews and the Chief
Rabbinate.

“We call on all relevant authorities to respect this character and to
prevent actions which offend the sensibilities of religious
communities that reside in Jerusalem and hold her dear,” the
statement said.

A leader of the Armenian church in Jerusalem said Monday the church
would not press charges against the yeshiva student, who spat at
clergy during a Christian procession last week.

ArmenPress
Oct 20 2004

ARMENIAN YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS UNITE TO FIGHT BACK RELIGIOUS SECTS

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS: The youth wing of the ruling
Republican Party announced today that all those who will face an
aggressive behavior from members of the recently registered Jehovah’s
Witnesses organization may call 56- 42- 97 or 53- 72- 98 to report
the incidents.
Armen Ashotian, the head of the youth wing, said another 40 youth
organizations, “concerned with the danger to the nation’s spiritual
and cultural values,” have joined the struggle against religious
sects in order to foil attempts jeopardizing the nation’s security.
“We deem proselytizing as a social evil and will keep in the
limelight all illegal activity of the religious sects,” he said,
adding that the organizations will ask the education ministry to
introduce compulsory teaching of Armenian Church History in all
universities curricula. Ashotian said the organizations will stage
authorized rallies and hold public discussions to fight against the
sects.