Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

Russian Speaker arrives in Armenia
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
1 Oct 04
[Presenter] Russian Federation Council Speaker Sergey Mironov arrived
in Yerevan on a three-day visit today. Sergey Mironov will meet the
country’s leadership during the visit. His meeting with the teachers
and students of Yerevan State University has also been scheduled. This
is Sergey Mironov’s third visit to Armenia. Answering journalists’
questions at the airport, Sergey Mironov spoke about the Armenian
cargo accumulated after security was stepped up on the
Georgian-Russian border.
[Sergey Mironov, captioned, at airport, in Russian with Armenian
voice-over] As long as we know that many terrorists feel free on
Georgian territory and, of course, after Beslan, we have had to take
appropriate steps. They had nothing to do with the Armenian cargo. We
are aware of Armenia’s problems in this sphere and are ready to help
Armenia. We hope that the Armenian leadership will show understanding
of the reasons that made us take the aforesaid steps.

2004 ARPA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SCREENINGS
Arclightcinemas.com
September 28, 2004
The ARPA International Film Festival is dedicated to cultivating
cultural understanding and global empathy, creating a dynamic forum for
international cinema with a special focus on the work of filmmakers
who explore the issues of Diaspora, exile and multi-culturalism. It
also celebrates the ideals of independent thought, artistic vision,
cultural diversity and social understanding.
The film festival is produced annually by the Arpa Foundation for
Film, Music and Art (AFFMA). Founded in 1995, the non-profit AFFMA
was formed for the purpose of promoting the arts and enhancing the
cultural environment of our community, especially providing support
to filmmakers exploring subjects of social and cultural importance
through their medium.
The 2004 ARPA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL will be held between October
5-10, 2004.
This year marks the 7th festival, and once again at ArcLight
Cinemas in Hollywood. This year’s festival theme is “Films Without
Borders.” The festival will feature over 60 films from 20 different
countries, including the United States, France, Italy, India, Iran,
Germany, Croatia, Mexico and Armenia. Every film is displayed on an
illuminating pedestal and is aimed at drawing the audience to admire,
examine and challenge. Arpa echoes a truth that is ever present in
Los Angeles, that to love mankind during times of war is difficult,
but not impossible if only through the love of cinema.
For further information about AFFMA, visit
<;. For futher information about ARPA Int'l Film Festival Screenings, visit: ;seriesId=&eventType=series&dateText=10/5/2004&forward=/Detail2678.jsp&path=cs

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
September 27, 2004
The Life and Work of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian
Will be Memorialized on Friday, October 15
NEW YORK, NY – In just two months the first anniversary of the
passing of His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian will be marked with
appropriate requiem services in all Prelacy churches. Here in New York,
where he served as the leader of the Eastern Prelacy for twenty years,
his life and work will be remembered in a Memorial Tribute on Friday
evening, October 15. The commemorative program will take place at
St. Peter’s Church, 619 Lexington Avenue (at 54th Street), at 7:30 p.m.
Organized by the Hamazkayin of New York, the tribute is under the
auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of
the Eastern Prelacy. The gathering will hear addresses by Dr. Ashot
Melkonian, Director of the Institute of History of the Academy of
Sciences in Armenia, and the Honorable Judge Sarkis Teshoian, who
served as chairman of the Prelacy’s Executive Council during the
Archbishop’s tenure in New York.
The cultural portion of the evening will feature the well-known singer
Hasmik Mekhanedjian and Janet Marcarian on the organ. The opening
words of welcome will be delivered by Mrs. Arevig Caprielian and
Dr. Herand Markarian will serve as the evening’s master of ceremonies.
Perhaps the most poignant portion of the program will be a video
presentation of the “Life and Work of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian.” The
video presentation was prepared with the use of archival still
photographs and videos. It is narrated in the Archbishop’s own words,
in his own voice.
The late Archbishop, who died unexpectedly on December 2, 2003, during
a visit to the New York area, served the Armenian Church for decades
with passion and fervor. His service in the United States was preceded
by his service as Prelate of New Julfa/Isfahan in Iran. He assumed
the office of Prelate in the United States in January 1978 and for
twenty years he served the community in the United States and Canada,
with great distinction. His tenure was marked with a period of great
growth for the Eastern Prelacy, both in scope and numbers.
As Executive Director of the 1700th commemorative events of Christian
Armenia, he once again manifested his great talent and vision for
events that brought the faithful together and offered educational
benefits not only for Armenians, but also for everyone. He continued to
serve in Armenia after the death of Catholicos Karekin I. He worked
tirelessly to spread Christianity throughout Armenia, supported
countless ways to help the struggling population, and helped publish
dozens of books.
Archbishop Mesrob often spoke and wrote about the importance of
respecting the dead. In one essay he wrote, “Throughout history, it
has been observed that only the great nations of the world have known
how to respect their dead. In contrast, those nations who have severed
ties with their ancestors, have been doomed to extinction.” He often
quoted the late Catholicos Zareh I, who used to enjoy repeating the
words of a famous historian who upon analyzing the reasons for the fall
of Rome said, “Rome fell because Romans lost respect for their dead.”
Archbishop Mesrob will be remembered for time immemorial because of
his extraordinary life and work. New York’s Hamazkayin is honored to
present this memorial tribute in remembrance of a great humanitarian
and clergyman whose greatest joy was working for the benefit and
strength of the Armenian church and nation.
Archbishop Oshagan, a fellow member of the Cilician Brotherhood and
lifelong friend of the late Archbishop, will deliver the evening’s
concluding words and benediction.
Admission is free. Further information is available at 718-459-2757.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARYAN WILL PAY A 5-DAY STATE VISIT TO
CHINA ON SEPT 26
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24. ARMINFO. On September 26 Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan will pay a 5-day state visit to China.
The Armenian Presidential Press Service told ARMINFO that the Armenian
delegation will consists of Minister for Territorial Administration
and Coordination of Infrastructures Hovik Abrahamyan, Minister of
Agriculture David Lokyan, Minister for Culture and Youth Affairs Hovik
Hoveyan and other officials. Robert Kocharyan will be accompanied in
China by representatives of scientific, public and business circles of
the country. In the course of the visit to Pekin, Robert Kocharyan is
expected to meet Chinese President Xu Dzintao, Chairman of the State
Council, Chairman of the All Chinese Assembly of National
Representatives. At the end of the visit, the presidents of the two
states will sign a joint declaration. Besides, intergovernmental
agreements of cooperation in the technical-and-economic and
seismological spheres will be signed, as well as a program of cultural
cooperation for 2005.
Besides, visits to the historical and cultural sights of Pekin are
planned, On Sept 29, the Armenian delegation will leave from Pekin to
Shanghai, where Robert Kocharyan will meet the Mayor, will visit an
exhibition of ocal city development, local center of tourism and will
get first hand information of the current works. On Sept 30 the
Armenian delegation headed by President Robert Kocharyan will return
to Yerevan.

PRESS RELEASE
The Eurasia Foundation
1350 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20036
Contact: William Grant
Tel: 202-234-7370
Fax: 202-234-7377
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Eurasia Foundation and the Izmirlian Foundation Launch Armenian Credit
Company
September 21, 2004 – The Eurasia Foundation and Izmirlian Foundation
announce the establishment of the Izmirlian – Eurasia Universal Credit
Company LLC. On July 22, 2004 the Central Bank of Armenia issued a
credit organization license to the company that will provide financing
to small businesses in Armenia.
This is the next step in the evolution of the existing small business
loan partnership program of the two foundations, establishing a
permanent, locally registered and operated credit company that will
provide medium term financing directly to small businesses. Zakar
Boyajyan has been appointed the credit company’s director; he has served
as director of the small business loan program for five years. In its
first two months of existence the Izmirlian – Eurasia Universal Credit
Company has approved loans to 11 businesses for a total of $730,000.
The Eurasia Foundation launched its small business loan program in
Armenia in 1995 with funding from USAID. Over time the program became
recognized as successfully contributing to the development of small
businesses. Based on this success, the Eurasia Foundation attracted
significant additional funding from the Lincy Foundation. In 1999, the
Izmirlian Foundation became a full partner in the program and provided a
grant that substantially increased its loan pool. The program has lent
to businesses across a wide range of sectors and in all 11 marzes
(regions) of Armenia. Through August 2004, the loan program had
disbursed $10.4 million to 294 businesses.
*****
Privately managed with support from the U.S. Agency for International
Development and other sponsors, the Eurasia Foundation has made over
7,000 grants totaling more than $143 million to support democratic and
economic reform in 12 countries of the former Soviet Union since 1993.
For more information, please visit or
The Izmirlian Foundation is a charitable organization established in
1995, aimed to assist economic and social development in Armenia.

Agency reports clash between Georgians, ethnic Armenians in southern district
A-Info news agency
13 Sep 04

AKHALKALAKI
Members of the Kmara [Georgian: Enough] youth movement did not take
part in the clash between Georgians and ethnic Armenians in
Ninotsminda, southern Georgia, on 6 September, a reliable source
reported.
The same source did not rule out that the Georgian State Security
Ministry could have sent the latter to Javakhetia [Georgia’s
Armenian-populated Samtskhe-Javakheti Region] on a special mission to
cause provocation there.
To recap, several employees of the Georgian State Security Ministry,
including the head of the Ninotsminda District council, brutally beat
up some people and policemen on 6 September. As a result, three
persons were rushed to hospital.

Police seek public’s aid in finding missing man
By Daily News
Los Angeles Daily News, CA
September 17 2004
GLENDALE — Detectives on Thursday were seeking the public’s help
in locating Grigor “Vrej” Adamyan for questioning in the 2003
disappearance of 33-year-old Martin Pogosian.
Pogosian, a medical clinic manager, was last seen in Los Angeles
on Jan. 23, 2003, at 3:30 p.m. after leaving a business meeting
in Glendale.
“He was in a dispute over the telephone and went downtown to handle
that,” said Sgt. Steven Davey of the Glendale Police Department. “He
was missing after that.”
Police believe Adamyan had some sort of dealings with the victim.
Pogosian’s family had last talked to him by cell phone Jan. 24, 2003,
a few hours before a large kidnap-ransom request was delivered to an
unknown Armenian in Los Angeles. The family has helped police identify
business associates and friends. He is described as a family man who
always was in contact with his family.
The Glendale Police Department’s Special Investigation Unit has
developed new leads in the case and is asking for the community’s help.
Anyone with information is asked to call Davey at (818) 548-6485.

Baku made mistake by denying Armenians entry to Azerbaijan – pundit
Ekho, Baku
16 Sep 04
Azerbaijan’s refusal to entertain Armenian officers at the NATO
Cooperative Best Effort 2004 exercises in Baku has been stirring the
Azerbaijani public for several days now.
[Passage omitted: reported statement by the US ambassador about
Washington regretting that Armenian officers were denied visas]
The ambassador is right that earlier Baku, namely its president,
gave assurances that it would ensure the security of the Armenian
officers, should they take part in the NATO exercises. It happened in
summer. Let’s also recall that after their latest meeting in Prague
on 30 August, Foreign Ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and Vardan Oskanyan
gave very high assessments of the talks, saying that their results
were reassuring and could lead to progress in the negotiations between
Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharyan.
>>From this standpoint, the following excerpt from the Azerbaijani
Foreign Ministry’s statement made after the NATO decision to cancel the
exercises looks quite strange: “In the circumstances of the ongoing
occupation of 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territory and the presence
of 1m refugees, the leadership of the Republic of Armenia is taking
an increasingly non-constructive position in the negotiations.”
The former head of the Azerbaijani presidential secretariat and
currently the chairman of the public forum In the name of Azerbaijan,
Eldar Namazov, believes that the Azerbaijani leadership is to blame
for the tension that has taken shape.
“This is totally wrong when such an important event, which had been
planned for a long time, is called off hours before it is scheduled
to start. And this was done for a reason which, as it was clear
from the very beginning, could bring about serious consequences. The
Azerbaijani authorities should have raised the issue at an earlier
stage and shouldn’t have waited for visitors to arrive from a number
of countries and, with only several hours left till the start of
the exercises, made a hasty decision which will obviously affect our
relations with NATO,” Namazov said.
The political analyst thinks this is a “serious mistake by the
Azerbaijani authorities”.
“As for the implications of the decision, I think there will
probably be a pause in our relations now. But I think this will
first of all concern the NATO administration’s assessment of the
Azerbaijani leadership’s actions, while Azerbaijan as a state will
continue to attract the alliance’s interest. Because we are located
at a very important strategic junction between Europe and Asia,
the South-West and North-South corridors go through Azerbaijan,
Caspian oil resources will be transported to the world market through
Azerbaijan. All this causes permanent interest in our country on the
part of world superpowers and leading international organizations,
and this interest is unlikely to lessen because of such short-sighted
actions by the Azerbaijani leadership,” he said.
“I am unhappy with the way international bodies are handling the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, but from the standpoint of the state we
have to bear in mind that Azerbaijan’s national security is threatened
by dozens of international challenges. The Armenian aggression is the
main, but not the only one of these challenges. And if NATO can help
us avert other threats, then cooperation with NATO represents great
value for us,” Namazov added.
Namazov does not believe that things will reach a point when relations
with NATO will be terminated, “but further steps will be taken with
a view to how consistent the Azerbaijani authorities will be”.

Aliyev, Kocharian negotiate Nagorno-Karabakh
Interfax
Sept 16 2004
Astana. (Interfax) – A Wednesday one-on-one meeting between Azerbaijani
and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian in the Kazakh
capital city of Astana, which they had following a tripartite meeting
with Russian President Vladimir Putin, lasted for over four hours.
“The presidents have clarified certain positions and standpoints,
and now we have to take time to find where we stand” after this round
of negotiations, Kocharian told the press.
The negotiating process concerning the resolution of the Nagorno-
Karabakh problem is “underway,” Kocharian said. He admitted, however,
“We can’t boast of anything special.”
Both parties treat the dialogue “with patience,” he said. “We are
discussing very difficult problems that we have inherited,” he said.
Aliyev assessed the meeting positively. “I deem it positive that
meetings between the foreign ministers, with the co-chairmen of the
[OSCE] Minsk Group involved, are held regularly,” he said.
The Azerbaijani leader admitted that the two presidents cannot say
anything specific as to what they had discussed behind closed doors.
“We always have to confine ourselves to very general phrases, and
there will be no exception today, because the process is extremely
important,” Aliyev said.
He said the two presidents had summarized outcomes of previous
negotiations between the two foreign ministers.
Aliyev and Kocharian once again thanked President Vladimir Putin
for willingness to mediate in their dialogue. “We thank the Russian
president for understanding,” Kocharian said.

Azerbaijan, Armenia Hold Talks On Nagorno-Karabakh
Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Sept 16 2004
15 September 2004 — The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan held talks
today on the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham
Aliyev held two-way talks before joining Russian President Vladimir
Putin to discuss the ethnic Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan over which
the two neighboring states fought a five-year war in the early 1990s.
The talks were held on the sidelines of a meeting of leaders of
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member countries in the
Kazakh capital Astana.
The OSCE Minsk Group, which is co-chaired by Russia, France, and the
United States, has been mediating between Armenia and Azerbaijan in
the past decade.
Some 35,000 people were killed and about 1 million displaced by the
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which erupted during the breakup of
the Soviet Union.