Author: Khoyetsian Rose

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE PREPARATORY SESSIONS FOR
THE 9TH
ASSEMBLY OF WCC

In preparation for the 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC)
to be held in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre in February 2006, the WCC
Middle East Pre-Assembly held sessions in the St. Cross Church of the Greek
Orthodox Patriarchate in Damascus on September 27-October 1. The theme of
the meetings was “God, in Your Grace transform the world.”

Representatives from different religious communities, church youth
organizations, religious and secular individuals participated in the
sessions. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkisian (Primate of the Diocese of Tehran) and
Dr. Jan Salmanian from Lebanon participated in the meetings on behalf of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia.

The Head of the Greek Orthodox Church, Patriarch Iknadios Hazim, delivered
the opening remarks of the sessions, which started after his prayers.

The participants raised a number of issues to be discussed by the 9th
Assembly of WCC:

· The current situation of Christians in the churches of the Middle East in
general and in Palestine and Iraq in particular.
· The emigration of Christians from the churches of the Middle East.
·The importance of Christian-Muslim dialogue and the necessity of
strengthening it.

University students representing different churches also attended the
sessions. Hrair Djamboulian participated on behalf of the Armenian Church
University Students’ Association (ACUSA).

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

A1+

| 21:17:05 | 07-10-2005 | Politics |

THE SOLUTION WILL BE FAVOURABLE

`As to Karabakh issue, we’ll take a decision that is advantegeous for our
people, that solves the problem raised in 1988′, – Serge Sargsyan told the
journalist during today’s briefing.

Mr. Sargsyan didn’t comment on the parliament resolution concerning the
return of deposits. «I’ve never spoken loudly on tat subject and now I
won’t. The Prime-minister knows my opinion of that question, he’ll announce
it if he finds it necessary», – Minister of Defence said.

Zaman, Turkey
Oct 8 2005

European Politicians Think `Kurdish is Still Prohibited in Turkey’
By Habib Guler
Published: Friday, October 07, 2005
zaman.com

European Parliament (EP) Human Rights Subcommittee members visiting
Turkish Parliament experienced difficult moments when they asked
questions that revealed a lack of information.

Human Rights Commission Head Mehmet Elkatmis replied to the question
of when Kurdish will be permitted in Turkey saying, `Education and
broadcasting in Kurdish is free in Turkey.’ The delegation, under the
presidency of Helene Flautre, French member of EP, was informed by
Elkatmis about the developments in turkey. Flautre spoke at the
beginning of the meeting and congratulated Turkey for its efforts to
enter the EU. However the EP delegation asked questions about the
agenda in the part of the meeting which was closed to the press and
were surprised when they got answers they did not expect. It is
reported that the EP authorities brought a staged photo shot at
Bakirkoy Mental Institution and which had been published in some
newspapers in Europe recently and asked about torturing in Turkey.
Elkatmis said that the photo describes a scene which was totally made
up and emphasized that there is no tolerance to torture in Turkey.
Polish member Jozef Pinior raised the case opened against Orhan Pamuk
after he affirmed the Armenian Genocide in an interview and asked
when Turkey will change its policy on its history. Elkatmis replied
`The case against Orhan Pamuk can be seen in any country. There were
punishments for the ones who speak for Jews in Poland. There is an
investigation against the President of Turkish Historical Society
(TTK) Yusuf Halacoglu in Switzerland for denying the Armenian
Genocide. Armenians occupied 20 percent of the lands of Azerbaijan
and massacred 250,000 Azeri. Why do not you ever raise questions
about that?’

EP members said after they had eaten that they were impressed that
they had been served food even though the people welcoming them were
fasting for Ramadan.

AUSTRIA’S GAMES OVER TURKEY

The International Herald Tribune
October 6, 2005 Thursday

The European Union has finally cleared the way to opening membership
talks with Turkey, after wisely rejecting an attempt by Austria to put
unacceptable conditions on the negotiations. Jack Straw, the British
foreign secretary, should be congratulated on leading the rescue effort
in Luxembourg. And a reassuring phone call from Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey also
helped mitigate the Turks’ understandable bitterness over this process.

The debate over expanding the EU to include a huge, poor, Muslim
country has become the focus of a whole host of problems and
frustrations. But the way to accession negotiations had seemed
clear after the Union decided last December that Monday was to be
the starting date. Then came the crushing rejections of a proposed
European constitution in France and the Netherlands, leadership
crises in member states, and the “expansion fatigue” brought on by
the induction of 10 new countries.

As the deadline neared, Austria suddenly declared that it would agree
to open talks with Turkey only if alternatives to full membership were
declared a viable option. An overwhelming majority of the Austrian
public is opposed to Turkish membership, and Chancellor Wolfgang
Schlussel apparently thought he could wring some votes out of the
issue in a by-election on Saturday. (His party was trounced.)

With the Turks already feeling profoundly humiliated over the entire
process, going down that road would have been disastrous. Erdogan’s
reformist government, which has invested huge political capital in EU
membership, would have become vulnerable before Muslim and military
hard-liners, and Europe’s millions of Muslims would have felt even
more marginalized.

The effort to save the day included a phone call from Rice to Erdogan
to assure him that Turkey’s role in NATO would not be reduced,
as well as an EU agreement to start accession talks with Croatia,
something Austria is keen to do. The trick now is to move along the
tough process of these talks without further alienating Turkey from
Europe, and vice versa. Turkey still needs to make big changes in
its attitudes and practices on human rights, the role of women, the
rule of law, the slaughter of Armenians early last century and the
aspirations of its Kurdish minority. But Erdogan’s progress on many
of these issues has demonstrated a commitment to change. The ball is
rolling, and it was disgraceful of Austria to endanger the process
for petty domestic posturing. We hope those games are now over.

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10/06/2005
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1) French Insurance Company Agrees to Pay $17 Million to Genocide Heirs
2) Kurd Rebels End Ceasefire against Turkey
3) His Holiness Meets with Canadian Prime Minister
4) Turkey’s Erdogan to Chirac: keep it to yourself
5) His Holiness Aram I arrives in Los Angeles

1) French Insurance Company Agrees to Pay $17 Million to Genocide Heirs

LOS ANGELES–The French Insurance Company Axa has agreed to pay $17 million to
descendants of life insurance policyholders who perished during the Armenian
genocide.
The unofficial announcement came on October 2 by prominent Los Angeles
attorney Mark Geragos, one of the attorneys, along with Vartkes Yeghiayan and
Brian Kabateck who filed a class action lawsuit in a California federal court
against Axa.
Though the judge in the case has not signed the deal, he has agreed to the
$17
million settlement.
Geragos made the announcement during a USC Institute of Armenian Studies
banquet honoring Federal Judge Dickran Tevrizian who mediated the settlement.
Of the $17 million, up to $11 million will go to the heirs of close to 11,000
life insurance policyholders; $3 million to various Armenian non-profits; and
$3 million for attorneys fees. A French-Armenian non-profit will process and
pay the claims, and will receive funds leftover after claimants are paid.
The Axa settlement follows a similar agreement with New York Life Insurance
Company in early 2004. New York Life agreed to pay $20 million which was to be
disbursed as follows: Up to $11 million for the heirs of 2,400 life insurance
policyholders who perished during the Armenian genocide; $3 million for nine
Armenian-American charitable and religious organizations; $2 million for
administrative expenses; and $4 million for attorneys fees.

2) Kurd Rebels End Ceasefire against Turkey

DIYARBAKIR(Reuters)–Kurdish rebels said on Thursday they had ended a
unilateral ceasefire against Turkey and said that now the European Union had
opened entry talks with Ankara this was a problem not for Turkey but for the
whole EU.
The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels declared a one-month ceasefire in
their fight against Turkish security forces in August and extended it till
Oct.
3, the day Ankara won EU approval to start accession negotiations.
But Turkey’s government and armed forces ignored the call, just as they have
ignored all previous ceasefires, and military operations against the rebels in
the mainly Kurdish southeast continued unabated, the PKK said.
“It is certain that the Kurdish people will use their legitimate right of
active defense and democratic resistance to protect themselves and their
national honor against the increasing operations of destruction by the Turkish
state,” said a PKK statement.
The PKK’s ceasefire appeared to be an effort to get their case onto the
political agenda during sensitive negotiations leading up to Turkey’s Oct. 3
date for the start of entry talks. But the move was met with little success.
“The lack of any mention in the EU’s negotiation framework agreement of a
solution to the Kurdish problem, or even a single word about the continuing
low-intensity war, is an endorsement of the Turkish state’s policy of denial,”
said the statement quoted by the Germany-based Mesopotamia news agency
which is
close to the rebels.
“With the start of the negotiations the Kurdish problem is no longer just
Turkey’s problem, it is now a basic problem of the EU,” the PKK statement
said.

But it made no mention of attacking European targets. More than 30,000
people,
most of them Kurds, have been killed since the PKK took up arms in 1984 to
fight for self-rule in Turkey’s southeast.

3) His Holiness Meets with Canadian Prime Minister

OTTAWA–During a lengthy meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, His
Holiness Aram I, thanked the Canadian government and people on behalf of the
Armenian community of Canada for their consistent support. He emphasized that
the Armenian community of Canada fully participates in advancing the
country in
various fields.
Topics discussed included Lebanon’s Armenian Community, and relations between
the Republic of Armenia and Canada. The Pontiff also spoke about Canadian
Parliament’s recognition of the Armenian genocide last year, calling it a
“tangible expression of Canada’s stance on defending justice and human
rights.”
Prime Minister Martin praised the Armenian community of Canada, highlighting
their contribution to various sectors of Canadian society.
He also said that he hoped relations and cooperation between Armenia and
Canada would develop with time.
The Prime Minister asked His Holiness about his views on the political
situation of the Middle East, particularly Lebanon. The latter detailed
Lebanon’s current political climate, along with that of the region, saying he
hoped Canada would take a more active role there.
His Holiness presented the Canadian PM a book about the treasures of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia, rescued from the Armenian Genocide.
The delegation at the October 4 meeting with Prime Minister Martin included
Archbishop Khajag Hagopian (Prelate of Canada), Hagop Der Khatchadourian
(Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF) Bureau member), Dr. Vahram
Ehramdjian (ARF Central Committee of Canada), Apkar Mirakian (ANC of Canada)
and Krikor Koyoumdjian (Canadian Armenian National Assembly).

4) Turkey’s Erdogan to Chirac: keep it to yourself

ANKARA(AFP)–Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan chided French
president Jacques Chirac Wednesday for having said that Turkey needed a
“cultural revolution” before it could join the European Union.
“Mr. Chirac should keep his opinions on this issue to himself,” Erdogan said.
“Turkey undertakes its cultural revolutions by itself when it needs to… There
is nothing for Mr. Chirac to worry about, he should calm down.”
The French president, a cautious supporter of Turkey’s EU bid, expressed
doubts Tuesday on whether this mainly Muslim country would ever be able to
join
the bloc, saying membership would require “a considerable effort… a major
cultural revolution”.
In an interview with NTV television, Erdogan, said tongue-in-cheek: “I should
first speak to him (Chirac) and learn what cultural revolution (is required),
then we will make the necessary changes.”
He then got serious: “We have very substantial cultural dynamics, a very rich
culture. We will take forward our friendship with them (the EU), preserving
these cultural riches.
“Our friends should keep in mind that we will say OK if this cultural
revolution means integration, but if it means assimilation, they should not
expect that from us,” Erdogan said.
Turkey began official membership talks with the EU on Tuesday after fierce
wrangling on its accession terms, which underscored the increasing
hostility in
European public opinion to the admission of this relatively poor country of
some 72 million.

5) His Holiness Aram I arrives in Los Angeles

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia arrived in Los
Angeles on Wednesday, kicking off a 15-day Pontifical Visit to region.
Hundreds
gathered to officially welcome his Holiness, who performed ‘Hrashapar’ service
at Hollywood’s St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church. Among the many events
planned in the Los Angeles Area, His Holiness will also be visiting the Fresno
and San Francisco Armenian communities.

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ARMENIAN-ITALIAN BUSINESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN OCTOBER 6

Pan Armenian
05.10.2005 13:58

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met
today with Italian Minister of Foreign Trade Adolfo Urso, who is in
Yerevan on the occasion of the Days of Armenian-Italian friendship,
RA MFA press office reported. In the words of the RA FM, the Armenian
people will have a perfect opportunity to get familiarized with the
Italian culture and the Armenian-Italian cooperation. The parties noted
the dynamic development of the Armenian-Italian economic relations
and the importance of the Armenian-Italian business forum to be
held October 6. By Mr. Urso’s request Vartan Oskanian presented the
latest regional developments and the process of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement.

BRAND EXPO UNIVERSAL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OPEN OCT 14 TO 16 IN YEREVAN

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 5 2005

YEREVAN, October 5. /ARKA/. BRAND EXPO universal international
exhibition will be open from October 14 to 16 in Yerevan, Expomedia
Exhibition Projects Center told ARKA. According to the press release,
home and foreign brands will be exposed there. The exhibition is
organized by Expomedia Exhibition Projects Center in association with
Expofarm, a Moscow exhibition company and with support of
Trade-Industrial Chamber of Armenia. The exhibition will be opened in
Armenian Government Congress Hall. Address is Melik-Adamyan Str. 1.

EU OFFICIAL ISSUES CAUTION OVER TIES WITH AZERBAIJAN

RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, Czech Republic
Oct 5 2005

5 October 2005 — The European Union’s external relations commissioner,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, warned today that Azerbaijan risks delaying
its participation in the EU’s European Neighborhood Program by pursuing
ties with Northern Cyprus.

“I told the Azeris clearly: ‘If they do not change their attitude, if
they do not find a solution, we will start moving ahead with Armenia
and Georgia,'” Ferrero-Waldner said. “We’re hoping now that the Azeris
will find a solution, but this is going to be a matter of some weeks
after I must give the go-ahead to the others [Armenia and Georgia]
because I cannot let them wait.”

The EU only recognizes the Greek-community government of the divided
island, which joined the EU in 2004.

Cyprus is now blocking Azerbaijan’s progress in the European
neighborhood program — also known as the wider Europe initiative —
over Baku’s links to the Turkish part of Cyprus, having specifically
complained about commercial flight activity.

Ferrero-Waldner, who was speaking before the European Parliament’s
foreign affairs committee in Brussels, said she had warned Azerbaijan
of the risk.

NO WREATH TO THE PARLIAMENT

A1+
| 21:18:41 | 03-10-2005 | Politics |

The coalition was saved; Hmayak Hovhannisyan will not bring the
promised wreath signifying the death of the coalition and the
Parliament to the NA as today the draft about the return of the
deposits was included into the agenda of the session.

“Our efforts of the last few years were finally crowned with success,
and issue will be discussed and solved legislatively, after which
a very serious procedure will start during which the Government
will establish the correlation of the deposit return. To our mind,
the return must be full and not partial”, said Hmayak Hovhannisyan
during the interview with the journalists.

He also reminded that the NA President Arthur Baghdasaryan had promised
to return 1USD for every 10 Soviet rubles. “We have the experience
of constructive cooperation with the NA President. As an independent
deputy I will continue to apply pressure on the Parliament as the
issue is entering the final phase”, Hmayak Hovhannisyan warned.

By the way, a very interesting situation has been created; Hmayak
Hovhannisyan thinks the issue has been included into the agenda under
the pressure he applied, Arthur Baghdasaryan thinks it is the victory
of OYP, and the opposition contribution the inclusion to themselves.

FIFTEEN MEMBERS OF OPPOSITION BLOC ARRESTED DURING RALLY

Turan news agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 3 2005

Baku, 3 October: Fifteen activists of the Azadliq election bloc were
attested during the 1 October protests. They were sentenced to from two
to 15 day’s imprisonment as administrative punishment, the secretary
of the bloc’s election headquarters, Fahmin Haciyev, has told Turan.

Ten of them are members of the People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party
[PFAP], five from the Democratic Party and the Musavat Party. Among
them are the PFAP chairman, Ali Karimli’s, chief bodyguard, Karim
Mehdiyev, a member of the PFAP executive board, Vaqif Panahov, the
chairman of the PFAP branch in Imisli [central Azerbaijan], Suleyman
Xanmammadov, and the chairman of the branch of the Musavat Party
in Lacin [western Azerbaijan, currently under Armenian occupation],
Faiq Suleymanov.