Author: Khondkarian Raffi

Religious Life (Bucharest)
Weekly bulletin
Year XII, No 555, 23 May 2004

8. COMMEMORATION IN BUCHAREST OF THE GENOCIDE OF 1915 AGAINST THE ARMENIANS

On 24 April last, a remembrance service took place at the Armenian
Cemetery in Bucharest for the victims of the genocide of 1915 against
the Armenians, in Turkey. The religious service was celebrated by His
Eminence Dirayr Mardichian, Archbishop of the Orthodox Armenians in
Romania, vartabed Khoren Zakarian, Rev. Bogdan Ezras, deacons Haig
Azarian and Radu Holca, near the khacikar raised in the cemetery
in the memory of those killed 89 years ago. Wreaths of flowers were
laid on behalf of the Armenian Embassy in Bucharest, of the Armenian
Archdiocese and of the Armenians* Union in Romania. After the service,
His Eminence Dirayr Mardichian and His Excellency Eghiºe Sarksian,
Ambassador of the Armenia in Bucharest took the floor. The Armenians
present at the remembrance service lit candles and laid flowers near
the khacikar.

Next day, at Dudian library, in the courtyard of the Armenian
Cathedral in Bucharest, a meeting dedicated to the commemoration of
the genocide took place, where publicist Vartan Arachelian and writer
Mihai Rãdulescu delivered speeches. Vartan Arachelian said that the
Armenians in Romania should make the state authorities sensitive
to this issue so that, in the perspective of the anniversary next
year of nine decades since the tragic events in the Ottoman Empire,
the Parliament from Bucharest should recognize the genocide, as the
Parliaments of some other countries have already done. Writer Mihai
Rãdulescu read a lengthy material about the massacres committed
against the Armenians in 1915.

One week before, the Armenian Liturgy of Catholic rite had been
celebrated in the *Holy Trinity* church in Cluj-Napoca, in the
memory of the victims of the Genocide of 1915. Rev. Szakacs Endre,
the parish priest of the Armenian church in Gherla (county of Cluj)
celebrated the religious service.

In the same city, in March, the film Ararat by Atom Egoyan producer was
presented at the headquarters of the German Forum while on 27 April a
photo exhibition was varnished displaying images of the deportations
and massacres committed against the Armenians * informs us the Ararat
magazine, the publication of the Armenians* Union in Romania, issue 8
(293) of 16-30 April 2004.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS REAFFIRMS ADHERENCE TO PEACEFUL
SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

RIA Novosti, Russia
May 24 2004

BUENOS AIRES, May 24 (RIA Novosti) – Catholicos of All Armenians
Garegin II, the supreme hierarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
is making his first ever official visit to Argentina.

“The purpose of my first patriarchal visit to Argentina is to meet the
Armenian community and bring blessing from Yejmiadzin, the residence of
the Armenian patriarchs (catholicoses),” Garegin II told RIA Novosti.

“I wanted to support my fellow countrymen and encourage them to
uphold their traditions and culture on the South American continent,
as well as make their contribution to the life of Argentina,” said
the patriarch.

“I was glad to see that Armenians enjoy freedom of worship in
Argentine, and that they can live here practising their religion and
cherishing their ethnic values and traditions,” said Garegin II.

“My compatriots came to South America fleeing the genocide of Ottoman
Turkey in 1915. They survived many ordeals and found their home here.
I am pleased with the fact that many Armenians are taking high
positions in Argentina’s government bodies. There are also a lot of
prominent businessmen of Armenian extraction in the country. They
work in all the domains and spheres of life in this country,” said
the Armenian church leader.

There are 7 Armenian schools in Argentina, each of which is attended
by some 350 students, recalled the patriarch.

“I was pleased to learn about an Argentine-Armenian school in Buenos
Aires for Argentine children, where they are taught the Armenian
language and even sing Armenian songs and dance Armenian dances. This
is a sign of gratitude to the country for the warm reception it
extended to Armenians in the turbulent period of their history. A lot
of /joint/ public, charity organisations have also been established
in Argentina.” The Armenian Church advocates a peaceful solution to
the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.

“From the very beginning of the conflict we have believed that it can
be resolved by peaceful means alone,” Garegin II told RIA Novosti.
(Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian enclave on Azerbaijan’s territory,
declared independence and withdrawal from Azerbaijan in the early
1990s).

“This is our strong belief, and I think this is also the Azerbaijani
people’s desire. In a bid to settle the problem, we have held a meeting
with Sheikh Allakhshukyur Pasha-zade, head of the Ecclesiastical Board
of Muslims of the Caucasus, which was mediated by Patriarch of Moscow
and All Russia Alexis II,” said the Armenian church leader.

“At the meeting we expressed the opinion that the problem must be
resolved peacefully, while hostility between the neighbouring nations
must not be fuelled. We hope the problem will be resolved precisely
in this way,” said the Armenian church leader.

“We are therefore working to ensure favourable prerequisites for
peaceful settlement. Patriarch of All Georgia Ilya II has recently
joined in the process,” noted Garegin II.

The Armenian patriarch earlier visited the Armenian dioceses in
Brazil and Uruguay, the countries that are home to 15,000 and 10,000
Armenians respectively. Argentina’s Armenian community is the largest
one in South America as it consists of some 140,000 people.

While in Argentina, the Armenian church leader has been received by
President Nestor Kirchner and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship
Rafael Bielsa.

The Catholicos of All Armenians blessed believers at St Gregory’s
Cathedral, the residence of the Armenian Apostolic Church in
Argentina. Garegin II will round off his visit to the country on
Tuesday.

PRESS RELEASE

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

For Immediate Release: May 19, 2004

Contact: Armen Carapetian
Telephone: 818.500.1918

NEVADA ARMENIAN AMERICANS WILL PLAY CRUCIAL ROLE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Bush Approval Rating in Jeopardy With Armenian American Voters Due
to Poor Record on Community Concerns

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA –The explosive growth of the Armenian American
community in Nevada may be the deciding factor in the upcoming
Presidential elections in November as both President George W. Bush
and Senator John Kerry battle it out on the road to the White
House. Along with swing states like New Hampshire, New Mexico,
Michigan and Iowa–Nevada’s five electoral votes are coveted by the
Presidential candidates, in a race that many political observers and
pundits view as “razor close.”

Since 1990, Nevada’s population and economy has grown at a torrid
pace, adding roughly 4,700 residents a month, according to an article
which appeared in The Los Angeles Times on May 6, 2004 by journalist
Mark Barabak. The author noted that Nevada’s population now exceeds
2.2 million–close to double the figure of 14 years ago. The state’s
largest Armenian American advocacy group–the Armenian National
Committee of Nevada (ANCN)–estimates that the Armenian community
has increased five-fold over the last decade. The ANCN estimates that
over 8,000 Armenian Americans now call Nevada home.

“The quick growth of our community in Nevada is a sign of changing
times and will result in a more prominent role for Armenian American
voters in this state,” remarked ANCN Chairman Hriyr Dadaian. “We
already have great relationships with Senator Ensign, Congresswoman
Shelley Berkley and a number of other public officials and we look
forward to expanding our circle of friends. Like everyone else here,
we are watching the Presidential election very closely,” Dadaian added.

Last month the ANCN honored Senator John Ensign (R-NV) as its
“Man of the Year” for introducing legislation that marked the
15th anniversary of the official US adoption of the United Nations
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocides. Senator
Ensign co-authored Senate Resolution 164 with Senator Corzine (D-NJ)
and has 39 co-sponsors, well over a third of the Senate.

“The outcome of the upcoming Presidential election is going
to come down to a few key states,” speculated ANCA-WR Executive
Director, Ardashes Kassakhian. “And we are working on mobilizing all
Armenian-Americans throughout the United States to ensure double the
voter turnout from four years ago.”

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
of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

No personnel increases planned at Russian base in Armenia

Interfax
May 21 2004

Yerevan. (Interfax-AVN) – Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said
there are no plans to deploy more troops to his country’s military base
in Armenia, but said it would be provided with more advanced weapons.

“We have no plans to add more servicemen to the troops stationed at
Russia’s 102nd Military Base in Armenia. Its numerical strength is
sufficient and optimal,” Ivanov told a news conference in Yerevan
on Thursday.

“Another matter is that we need to provide our servicemen with
state-of-the-art weapons and military hardware. We take these plans
seriously,” the defense minister said.

Armenia and Iran ink gas, gas pipeline agreement

Interfax
May 20 2004

Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenia and Iran signed an agreement on May
13 on Iran providing Armenia with at least 1.1 billion cubic meters
(bcm) of natural gas annually, and the two countries working to build
a pipeline to be launched before January 1, 2007.

Armenian Energy Minster Armen Movsisyan told the press afterwards
that Armenia will pay for the Iranian gas with electricity.

The tentative price tag on building the 41-km Armenian section of
gas pipeline from Megri (near the border with Iran) to Kajaran will
be $96- $100 million. Kajaran-Yerevan pipeline was built earlier and
is ready for use.

The cost of the roughly 100-km Iranian section is expected to be
$120 million. Both parties will build their sections independently,
Movsisyan said.

He declined to identify financial sources for the Armenian section or
how much the Iranian gas will cost, citing commercial confidentiality.

Iranian Oil and Gas Minister Bijan Zanganeh was present for the
signing, and he also declined to specify prices. He noted that the
deal is for 20 years, during which Iran is to supply its neighbor
with up to 36 bcm in exchange for electricity produced in Armenia.

In 1995, the two countries signed an inter-governmental agreement
laying out a route for a gas pipeline running 141 km overall, as well
a gas price of $84 per 1,000 cubic meters. The project is estimated
at $120 million, with the Armenian section costing $90-$100 million
because of difficulties building pipeline through mountainous terrain.

The idea is that Armenia will initially be receiving 700 million cubic
meters of gas a year through the new pipeline, that increasing later
to 1.5 bcm annually.

Armenia and Iran have discussed building this pipeline since 1992.
Russia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, European countries and China have all
expressed interest.

Armenian leader urges European bank to expand cooperation

Mediamax news agency
19 May 04

Yerevan, 19 May: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan received President
of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development [EBRD] Jean
Lemierre in Yerevan today.

Kocharyan noted that cooperation between Armenia and the EBRD was not
very expanded and spoke in favour of greater involvement on the part
of the EBRD in the economic development in Armenia.

Jean Lemierre said in turn that drawing up further assistance
programmes in Armenia, the EBRD would focus mainly on programmes of
assistance to small and medium-sized businesses.

They also discussed issues relating to the activities of Armenia’s
banking system and stressed the importance of forming an initial
mortgage market.

ARKA News Agency
May 17, 2004

Armavia Airlines opens new flight Yerevan-Teheran

Regional seminar “Access to Information and Knowledge as Effective
Way of Sustainable Development” to take place in Yerevan

Karabakh Internet sites are among the most readable in the world

The Ministries of Culture of Armenia and NKR sign an agreement on
co-operation

Sergei Ivanov, the acting Minister of Defence of RF to arrive in
Yerevan with two day visit on May 20

*********************************************************************

ARMAVIA AIRLINES OPENS NEW FLIGHT YEREVAN-TEHERAN

YEREVAN, May, 17. /ARKA/. Armavia Airlines opened new regular flight
Yerevan-Teheran. Till June 10, the flights will made once a week on
Saturdays and since June 10 – twice a week on Saturdays and
Wednesdays. “New flights establish direct air communication between
two economic and political centers of South Caucasus and Near East.
The flight will allow decreasing of costs and to make transportation
from one country to another more comfortable. Thus, the company
contributes to creation of transport infrastructure and future growth
of trade-economic and socio-cultural relations of Armenian and Iran”,
press release states.
Since 15 April 2003 the flight operated by Armenian Airlines
transferred to Armavia.
68% of actions of Armavia belong to Aviafin OJSC (the company is
registered in Armenia: the company is own by physical entities,
Russian citizens), while the remaining 32% to MIKA Armenia Trading.
The company is closely cooperates with Siberia airline in the frames
of close cooperation agreement based on which the parties generate
income from passenger transportations. L.D. -0–

*********************************************************************

REGIONAL SEMINAR “ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE AS EFFECTIVE
WAY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT” TO TAKE PLACE IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May, 17. /ARKA/. Regional seminar “Access to Information and
Knowledge as Effective Way of Sustainable Development” will take
place in Yerevan on May 18, Bioecomed NGO told ARKA. Co-organizers of
the seminar are representation of British Council to Armenia, UNESCO
and OSCE. The basic goal of the seminar is increase of
familiarization of academy societies of South Caucasus on information
resources accessible in World Network, namely science resources,
resources for teaching and education and others. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************

KARABAKH INTERNET SITES ARE AMONG THE MOST READABLE IN THE WORLD

YEREVAN, May, 17. /ARKA/. Karabakh Internet sites are among the most
readable in the world, Director of CJSC Karabakh-Telecom Ralph
Eirikian stated in his report “Karabakh in the Internet” in the
frames of the seminar “Eurointegration as a Guarantee of Peace and
Sustainable Development”. Among the best sites he called sites of NKR
MFA, Artsakhworld and the site of Karabakh-Telecom.
The organizers of the seminar devoted to the 10th anniversary since
the armistice in the region of Karabakh conflict are Helsinki-92
Karabakh Committee and European Integration (Armenia) NGO supported
with NKR and RA standing committees on foreign relations, as well as
NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A package of suggestions was worked out in the course of the
round-table discussions and submitted to NKR Government. L.D. -0–

*********************************************************************

THE MINISTRIES OF CULTURE OF ARMENIA AND NKR SIGN AN AGREEMENT ON
CO-OPERATION

YEREVAN, May, 17. /ARKA/. The Ministries of Culture of Armenia and
NKR signed an agreement on co-operation. According to the RA Ministry
of Culture, Youth and Sport, the co-operation to be in different
areas. In particular, joint performances of theatre, musical,
ethnographic and dance groups are encouraged, as well as their
participation in foreign festivals, holding a film week and joint
film shootings. Besides, the agreement stipulates exhibitions
exchange, organization of culture days, as well as inclusion of
groups from NKR into programs on Culture Days in Armenia in foreign
countries. Besides, the agreement provides for co-operation and
exchange of information between the museums, libraries and archives
of two countries, and enrichment of the library fund of NKR.
According to the press release, the RA Ministry of Culture, Youth and
Sport will render its help to Stepanakert State Dramatic theatre
after V. Papazyan in staging new performances. Besides, NKR to be
supported in conducting research and restoration of historical and
cultural monuments, as well as in publication of the corresponding
literature on methodology.
The agreement was signed by Hovik Hovhannisyan, the RA Minister of
Culture, Youth and Sport, and Armen Sargsyan, NKR Minister of
Education, Culture and Sport. A.H.–0–

*********************************************************************

SERGEI IVANOV, THE ACTING MINISTER OF DEFENCE OF RF TO ARRIVE IN
YEREVAN WITH TWO DAY VISIT ON MAY 20

YEREVAN, May 17. /ARKA/. Sergei Ivanov, the acting Minister of
Defence of RF to arrive in Yerevan with two day visit on May 20.
According to the RA Ministry of Defence Press Service Department,
Ivanov to meet the RA President Robert Kocharian and RA Minister of
Defence Serge Sargsyan, as well as to visit the memorial monument to
the victims of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey. A.H. –0–

*********************************************************************

Collective Security Treaty officials hold consultations in Moscow

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 18 2004

MOSCOW, May 18 (Itar-Tass) – Consultations of deputy foreign and
defence ministers and deputy Security Council secretaries of the
Organisation of the Collective Security Treaty (CST) member states
were held in Moscow on Tuesday.

CST Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha and Russian First Deputy
Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Trubnikov attended the meeting.

The press service of the CST secretariat told Itar-Tass the
consultations participants exchanged views “on the development of the
situation in the CST responsibility zone and realisation of measures
to fight modern challenges and threats.”

The officials devoted special attention to “the situation formed
in Afghanistan, as well as strengthening of cooperation of the
organisation members in the post-conflict settlement in the country,”
said the press service.

The sides discussed the fulfilment of decisions adopted at the Dushanbe
session of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation and priorities
in the organisation’s activities.

CST members are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan.

The press service also said the meeting participants “on the whole
approved drafts of the documents planned to be considered at the June
CST session in Astana.”

Thousands Protest In Yerevan Against Kocharian

Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep.
May 15 2004

15 May 2004 — Several thousand Armenian opposition supporters
protested in the streets of the capital Yerevan late on 14 May to
demand the resignation of President Robert Kocharian.

Interfax reported that police estimated no more than 4,000 people
participated in the peaceful demonstration, while organizers claim
30,000 people attended the rally.

The protest was the latest in a series of demonstrations since last
month. Opposition members says Kocharian rigged a presidential runoff
in March 2003 to secure a second term in office and is demanding that
he either organize a national referendum of confidence in his rule
or step down.

Kocharian was in Moscow for talks with Russia’s President Vladimir
Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov during the protest.

Armenian lives come into focus
By Bob Strauss, Film Critic

Long Beach Press-Telegram, CA
Redlands Daily Facts, CA
San Bernardino Sun, CA
May 15 2004

Vahe Babaian’s serious, slightly autobiographical film “After
Freedom” comes well-packed with worthy intentions. Set in Glendale’s
Armenian-American community, it’s perceivably honest about the
day-to-day struggles of recent – and not-so-recent – immigrants. It
also tries to tell a kind of “Mean Streets” story of aimless, somewhat
criminal young men without resorting to cheap melodrama.

The film succeeds on those counts. But in his first feature, Babaian
is both too close to the material and not seasoned enough of a
writer-filmmaker to generate much audience involvement. Despite some
solid performances (and partly because of a few lousy ones), the film
is sabotaged by clunky dialogue and sequences that go on too long,
often to nowhere.

Although it isn’t made clear in the opening narration, the film’s
protagonist Michael Abcarian (Mic Tomasi in a controlled, soulful
performance) is probably an Iran-born Armenian, like Babaian. This
would explain his father’s good job back home with a British airline.
(I could be wrong, but I don’t believe there were many flights between
London and small Soviet republics during the Cold War.) Anyway, once
Dad moved the family to Glendale, the American dream proved elusive.

Now elderly, widowed and defeated by a series of demeaning jobs,
Michael’s father, Leon (Greg Satamian), worries about the employment
prospects of an old man who can’t drive. Michael, who does dead-end
supermarket work himself, feels both guilty for not doing better and
responsible for keeping what’s left of the family intact.

This doesn’t sit well with his ambitious girlfriend Ana (Sophie
Chahinan), who has an opportunity to open a store in San Francisco.
But she’s also a fairly patient type who puts up with Michael’s
endless hours of cruising and hanging out at the gun shop with his
dopey pals, blustery small-time crook Avo (Shant Bejanian, in the
film’s best performance) and trouble-prone Mato (Ioannis Bogris), who
is obsessed with smuggling his brother into the country through Mexico.

We get some of the usual immigrant movie moments; there’s a wedding
and a first-time walk on the beach by a character in his 20s. But for
the most part, Babaian displays a knack for immersing viewers in the
small distinctions and similarities of Armenian-American life without
overloading on the ethnic signifiers.

In tone and presentation, “After Freedom” is about as far away from the
“Big Fat Greek Weddings” of the world as it can be, and its realism in
that regard is only to be lauded. But next time, hopefully, Babaian
will display a better sense of what’s interesting and what’s not
about the world he knows and appreciates so well.