Author: Toneyan Mark

KURDS IN AZERBAIJAN
By Ph.D Shamil Askerov
Translated from Turkish by Nizameddin Rzayev
Source: Kurdler Azerbaycanda
KurdishMedia, UK
9/18/2006
Samîl Esker Kosesi, PhD
The settlement of Kurds in Azerbaijan dates back to ancient times,
which is supported by numerous historical sources. Antique Greek
historians provide us with valuable information about the Kurds
living in modern-day Azerbaijan. The works published both in
Azerbaijan and abroad are also valuable sources of knowledge about
the Kurdish inhabitants of these lands. For example, the book titled
“Sources on the History of Azerbaijan” (pages 68-69) talks about the
heroic resistance of Balasican (Balasacan, Balasakan) Kurds against
the invading Caliph Armies headed by Salman Ibn Rebiyye during the
Islamic expansion (Sources on the History of Azerbaijan, Baku, 1989,
page 72). The same book describes Balasican as a province located
on the Mugan plains on the right-hand side shores of lower ends of
Kura River. The same source also mentions Sabalan and Seturdan Kurds
in Azerbaijan.
The fact that Terter river (Terter river taking its source from
Kelbajar mountains joins Kura River) was called the “Waters of Kurds”
in the14th century (during the time of Hurufi leaders-Neimi-Nesimi in
Azerbaijan) is another strong evidence of Kurds’ more ancient presence
in modern day Azerbaijan than is generally thought (Isa Huseynov,
“Meshher” novel, Baku, 1978, page 141)
Sheddadi dynasty
A Kurdish dynasty Sheddadis ruled large parts of modern day
Azerbaijan and Armenia from Dvin (951-971) and Ganja (971-1174) for
223 years. During this period, 20 Kurdish Kings between the reigns
of Muhammad Ibn Sheddad and Shehanshah ruled Azerbaijan.
Sheddadis were well-known for their massive construction and
engineering projects such as building roads, bridges, mosques
etc. After the Ganja earthquake they rebuilt Ganja as an even more
magnificent Sheddadi capital than before in a very short time.
Several historians talk about their policy of construction and justice
with great admiration. The 18 years’ rein of Kurdish King Abulesvar
Shavur in Ganja, famous for his far-sightedness, justice and wisdom
saw the completion of historic construction projects. One of the most
famous monuments built during Shavur’s reign are the still surviving
Ganja Doors conserved in the museums of Republic of Georgia.
Another famous construction masterpiece by Sheddadis was the Xudaferin
Bridge over Araks River which has also survived as a magnificent work
of craftsmanship and engineering until today. Xudaferin Bridge was
built during the reign of Sheddadi King Fezl (History of Azerbaijan,
Baku, 1994, page 283).
A classic Azerbaijani poet Getran Tebrizi in his hundreds of eulogies
(gita and madhiyyas) dedicated to Sheddadi Kings commended their
accomplishments and exalted them as the unrivaled leaders of the
region.
Tebrizi devoted more than 50 eulogies (medhiyye and gaside) to Shaddadi
Kings Ebdulhasan Eli Leshkeri and Ebdulxelil Jefer. Altogether, He
wrote more than 150 eulogies (gitas) about Sheddadi Kings. (Getran
Tebrizi, Divan, Azerbaijan Science Academy Press, Baku, 1967)
Deportation of 24 Kurdish tribes to Azerbaijan
Sharafname by Sheref Xan Bitlisi (Sharafname, Moscow, 1967, page 370,
in Russian) and other sources tell us that Shah Abbas I of Iran moved
16 or 24 Kurdish tribes to Azerbaijan to fortify the borders of Safavid
Empire. In the 19th century sources we find the traces of these 24
Kurdish tribes in Dereleyez (Dereleyez being part of Azerbaijan at that
time was later attached to Armenia and renamed as Azizbeyov). A book
published in St. Petersburg provides the following information about
them: After the rivalry between Kurdish bey Nebi bey and Karabakh xan,
the Shah of Iran called Nebi bey and invested him with the duty to
protect the borders of Eastern Dereleyez. The Kurds under the local
rule of Nebi bey moved from Karabakh to Dereleyez in 1813. At that
time there were 44 villages and 910 families in Dereleyez. Of these
families 663 were Kurdish, 247 were Armenian families.
The same source also deals with 9 Kurdish tribes of the famous 24s
which were Haci Shamli, Shadimanli, Gechovchu, Kulikanli, Hesenanli,
Bozlu, Ferixkanli, Pusyan and Milli (Statistics of Nakhchevan Region)
Orientalists Shopen in his work ” The historic situation of Armenian
province during its annexation to Russian Empire” published in
1852 identified and studied the following 22 Shiite Kurdish tribes
deported to Karabakh by Shah Abbas I: Karachorlu, Hesenanli, Kulikanli,
Shadimanli, Milli, Sheylanli, Tehmezli, Eliyanli, Bergushad, Babali,
Kulluxchu, Gelovchu, Ferixkanli, Sisyanli, Terterli, Haci Samli,
Sultanli, Gulukhanli, Bozlu, Elikyanli, Kolani, Pusyanli
Also, a well-known Azerbaijani historian Alekberov did an extensive
research on the mentioned Kurdish tribes.( A. Alekberov “Esseys on the
study of Kurdish culture” in Russian, Baku 1936, page 40-62) All the
mentioned tribes used to live in Kelbajar, Lachin, Gubadlu, Zengilan
and Cebrayil until the occupation of Red Kurdistan by Armenian troops.
Another source
Memmedhesen Velili (Baharli), in his Russian-language book “Azerbaijan:
geographical-natural, ethnographic and economic research” published
in 1921 and later translated into Azeri in 1993, did a brief research
on the Kurds of Azerbaijan. Baharli concluded that 20 thousand Kurds
lived in Azerbaijan in 1917.
The researcher has left us some very useful and detailed information
about the Kurdish tribes in Azerbaijan. The author writes “One of
the most influential chiefs of Shahseven tribe-Kurd bey had three
sons who branched out into three generations.
Poladbeyli generation, Demirbeyli generation, and Guzelbeyli
generation. Presently, there exist Poladbeyli and Demirbeyli
generations in Azerbaijan.
Other brunches that sprang out from the tribe of Kurd bey are Xelifeli,
Buduglu, Muradli, Zergerli, and Malli (page 44)
Baharli claims that one of the most assimilated nations in Azerbaijan
are the Kurds. According to him, Pusyan Kurds and Gorus Kurds migrated
into Azerbaijan from Nothern Kurdistan and Hamadan, Iran while all
the other Kurds are the indigenous inhabitants of Azerbaijan.
Baharli notes that most of the mentioned Kurds have undergone
linguistic assimilation and forgotten their native Kurdish. Only older
members of these communities could speak Kurdish. He provides us the
following information about some Kurdish villages of Nakhchevan: “The
ancestors of the people in Kilit village of Nakhchevan were exiled by
Nadir Shah after their rebellion. They spoke their native Kurdish until
the end of the 19th century but they mostly speak Azerbaijani/Turkish
now” The author establishes that the indigenous Kurdish communities
are concentrated in the following provinces of Azerbaijan.
Guba province: GaraKurdu and Garacali villages Javad province:
Garalar(4 villages), Garacalilar, Bouyk Gorus, Jir Gorus villages
Shamakhi province: Kurd, Garali, Gorushcheperli villages Goychay
province: Jir Kurd, Kurd Shaban, Kurdkarabakhli, Kurdmashi, Kurd,
Garachalli, Garaca, Gorusaga, Goruskend villages Lenkeran province:
Bergushad, Kurabbasli, Kurdler, Boyukgarali, Kichikgarali villages
Agdash province: Kurdler Zengezur province: Garalar, Garachalli,
Sisyan, Kurdhaci, Gazikurdarli, Kurdeli, Kurdgala Gazakh province:
Garalar Jebrayil province: Kurdmahmudlu, Kurd Mahrizli, Kurdchapik,
Kurdefendiler Jevanshir province: Bergushad, Kurdbaragi, Gazi Kurdeli,
Kurdler, Kurdbirdeamanyan; Gence province: Sefikurd Shusha province:
Kurdgaradagli, Kurdler Sherur-Dereleyez province: : Pesyan (Pusyan)
(page.
56-57)
Despite its usefulness, Baharli’s research sufferers from serious
shortcomings and does not report other well-known historical knowledge
about the Kurds of Azerbaijan. For instance, in his book, the author
has failed to give us any information about the 24 Kurdish tribes
deported to Azerbaijan by Shah Abbas I in the 16th century, and made
no mention of either their names or their settlement areas. The book
also omits two sizable Kurdish villages -Bakhchakurd and Balakurd in
Gence province (modern-day Goranboy district).
1926 Census
The results of population census conducted in 1926 were published two
years later in the book “The population of Caucasus” in Tiflis. At
the time one of total 13 provinces present in Azerbaijan was called
Red Kurdistan. According to the census, Kurds made up 72.3 percent
of 51,426 people residing in 480 settlements of Red Kurdistan, the
other 26.7 percent being Azeri Turks. The census established the
size of Kurdish population in Azerbaijan altogether at 41,193 persons
(21.280 men, 19.913 women), Besides 67 Kurdish residents of foreign
origin were also entered in the census figures.
Pyotr Lerx about Kurds
A Russian ambassador to Iran and kurdologist P. Lerx in his research
“Studies on the Kurds of Iran and their forefathers Haldeys” also
talks about Kurds in Azerbaijan. The book is a very useful source
of knowledge about Garachorlu, Hesenanli, Kulikanli, Shadimanli,
Haci Samli, Tehmezli, Xanazekli, Cavadli, Ferixkanli, Sultanli,
Milli, Bozlu, Bayandurlu and other Kurdish tribes (page 88) in
Azerbaijan. Lerx alos notes that these tribes had undergone serious
linguistic assimlation to the degree that only the members of old
generation could speak their native Kurdish
All of the above-mentioned Kurdish tribes cited by Lerx were living
in Red Kurdistan until its fall to Armenian Armies (1991-1993). There
were 22 Ferixkanli, 12 Hesenanli, 3 Haci Shamli, 3 Milli, and several
Xanazekli villages in Kelbajar.
M.A Skibitski about Kurds
The map prepared by M.A Skibitski about Kurds of Azerbaijan is another
important source of information relevant to concerned topic. (“Karabakh
map at the end of 19th century”, “Azerbaijan newspaper”, Baku, May 5,
1990 N.1)
According to M.A Skibitski, in the 19th century Kurds mostly lived in
Karabakh; the plateaus and canyons of Jevanshir province (Geza) crossed
by Terter and Tutgu rivers; the canyons and plateaus of Zengezur
province (Geza) crossed by Bergushad and Hekeri (Hakkari) Rivers; and
Jebrayil province; The author estimated that in only Karabakh there
were 3,500 Kurdish families, 18,603 Kurds and 67 Kurdish villages in
1893. During the same time, there were 3408 Armenian families and
47 Armenian villages in Karabakh. As is evident, Kurds had 22 more
villages and 102 more families than Armenians in Karabakh in 1893.
Settlements outside the boundaries of Red Kurdistan bearing the names
with the root “Kurd”
Despite the policy of the communist regime to rename the settlements
bearing the root “Kurd” in Azerbaijan over the 70 years, there
are still the following villages and towns possessing this root in
different districts of Azerbaijan Republic, all of them beyond the
boundaries of Red Kurdistan excluding Lachin and Gubadly districts
listed below.
Agdam district: two villages named Kurdler (Kurds) Agjabedi district:
Kurdler Berde district: Kurdborachi and Kurdler Gubadli district:
Kurdmahluzlu and Kurdler Guba district: Kurdarkh Zakatala district:
Kurdemir Goranboy district: Bakhchakurd, Balakurd, Sefikurd; Goychay
district: Jir Kurd, Kurdshaban, Kurd, Kurdemir Imishli district:
Kurdmahmudlu Ismayilli district: Kurdvan, Kurdmashi, Kurdeldarbeyli
Lachin district: Kurdhaci Lerik district: Kurdeser Masalli district:
Kurdebazli Oguz district: Kurd Fizuli district: Kurdler, Kurdmahmudlu
Xankendi district: Kurdler Sherur district: Kurdkend, Kurdchullu
Baku: Kurdexani (Kurdekhani) town Kurdemir district: Kurdemir town
(Administrative-territorial divisions of Azerbaijan Republic, Baku,
1961).
–Boundary_(ID_BaXq6UjrN+U1qzVk/v/7p g)–

All American Patriots (press release), Sweden
World : Armenia: International Religious Freedom
Report 2006
Posted by Patriot on 2006/9/16 14:23:01 (42 reads)

Armenia: International Religious Freedom Report 2006
Released by the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
This report is submitted to the Congress by the Department of State in
compliance with Section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom
Act (IRFA) of 1998. The law provides that the secretary of state, with
the assistance of the ambassador at large for international religious
freedom, shall transmit to Congress “an Annual Report on International
Religious Freedom supplementing the most recent Human Rights Reports
by providing additional detailed information with respect to matters
involving international religious freedom.”
Armenia: The constitution, as amended December 8, 2005, provides for
freedom of religion; however, the law places some restrictions on the
religious freedom of adherents of minority faiths, and there were some
restrictions in practice. The Armenian Apostolic Church, which has
formal legal status as the national church, enjoys some privileges not
available to other religious groups.
There was no overall change in the status of respect for religious
freedom during the period covered by this report. Some denominations
reported occasional acts of discrimination by mid- or low-level
government officials and isolated incidents of police harassment. An
amendment to the 2004 law on alternative military service took effect
on January 26, 2006, criminalizing evasion of alternative labor
service. Conscientious objectors maintained, however, that military
control of the alternative labor service amounted to unacceptable
military service.
The generally amicable relationship among religious groups in society
contributed to religious freedom; however, societal attitudes toward
some minority religious groups were ambivalent.
The U.S. government discusses religious freedom issues with the
Government as part of its overall policy to promote human
rights. During these discussions, the U.S. government emphasizes to
authorities that continued eligibility for the $235 million Millennium
Challenge Compact remains contingent upon the Government’s performance
in meeting good governance indicators, which include standards of
respect for religious freedom.
Section I. Religious Demography
The country has an area of 11,500 square miles and a population of 3
million.
The country is ethnically homogeneous; approximately 98 percent of the
population was ethnically Armenian. Many Azeris left the country
during the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh from 1988 to 1994,
increasing the country’s religious and ethnic homogeneity. Religious
observance was strongly discouraged in the Soviet era, leading to a
sharp decline in the number of active churches and priests, the
closure of virtually all monasteries, and the nearly complete absence
of religious education. As a result, the number of active religious
practitioners was relatively low. For many citizens, Christian
identity was an ethnic trait, with only a loose connection to
religious belief. An estimated 90 percent of citizens nominally
belonged to the Armenian Apostolic Church, an Eastern Christian
denomination with its spiritual center at the Etchmiadzin cathedral
and monastery. The head of the church, Catholicos Garegin II
(alternate spelling Karekin), was elected in 1999 at Etchmiadzin with
the participation of Armenian delegates from around the world.
There were comparatively small communities of other religious
groups. There was no reliable census data on religious minorities, and
reports from congregants themselves varied significantly. The
Government does not provide official figures for numbers of religious
adherents, but congregants offered the following unconfirmed
estimates: Catholic, both Roman and Mekhitarist (Armenian Uniate)
(120,000); Yezidi, an ethnically Kurdish cultural group whose religion
includes elements derived from Zoroastrianism, Islam, and animism
(40,000 nominal adherents); unspecified “charismatic” Christian
(10,000); Jehovah’s Witnesses (8,750); Armenian Evangelical Church
(8,000); Molokan, an ethnically Russian pacifist Christian group that
split from the Russian Orthodox Church in the 17th century (5,000);
Baptist (2,000); the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
(Mormons) (2,000); Greek Orthodox (1,200); Seventh-day Adventist
(950); Pentecostal (700); Jewish (600); and Baha’i (200). There was
no estimate of the number of atheists.
Yezidis were concentrated primarily in agricultural areas around Mount
Aragats, northwest of the capital, Yerevan. Armenian Catholic and
Greek Orthodox Christians were concentrated in the northern region,
while most Jews, Mormons, and Baha’is were located in Yerevan. In
Yerevan there was also a small community of Muslims, including Kurds,
Iranians, Indians, and temporary residents from the Middle East.
Several minority religious groups sponsor missionary programs in the
country, including both expatriate and local participants. Levels of
membership in minority religious groups remained relatively unchanged.
Section II. Status of Religious Freedom
Legal/Policy Framework
The constitution, as amended on December 8, 2005, provides for freedom
of religion and “the exclusive mission of the Armenian Apostolic Holy
Church as a national church in the spiritual life, development of the
national culture and preservation of the national identity of the
people of Armenia.” The law stipulates some restrictions on the
religious freedom of adherents of faiths other than the Armenian
Apostolic Church. The constitution also provides for freedom of
conscience, including the right either to believe or to adhere to
atheism. The 1991 Law on Freedom of Conscience, amended in 1997 and
again in 2001, establishes the separation of church and state but
grants the Armenian Apostolic Church official status as the national
church.
Extended negotiations between the Government and the Armenian
Apostolic Church resulted in a 2000 memorandum providing a framework
for the two sides to negotiate a concordat. Although they had not
concluded negotiations by the end of the period covered by this
report, the Government and the church used the memorandum as a basis
for dispute resolution and policy agreements.
The law requires all religious denominations and organizations to
register in order to operate without restrictions. There were no
reports of the Government refusing registration to religious groups
that were qualified for registration under the law. The Department of
Religious Affairs and National Minorities, which replaced the former
Council on Religious Affairs (CRA), oversees religious affairs and
coordinates activities with the cabinet’s chief of staff. A
high-ranking official from the former CRA serves as the prime
minister’s advisor on religious affairs. The Office of the State
Registrar registers religious entities, and the Department of
Religious Affairs and National Minorities performs a consultative role
in the registration process. To qualify for registration, petitioning
organizations must “be free from materialism and of a purely spiritual
nature,” and must subscribe to a doctrine based on “historically
recognized holy scriptures.” A religious organization must have at
least 200 adult members. Religious groups are not required to
register, but unregistered religious organizations may not publish
newspapers or magazines, rent meeting places, broadcast programs on
television or radio, or officially sponsor the visas of visitors. By
the end of the period covered by this report, the Government had
registered fifty-six religious organizations, some of which were
individual congregations within the same denomination.
Yerevan’s one surviving eighteenth-century mosque, which was restored
with Iranian funding, was open for regular Friday prayers. Although
not registered as a religious facility, the Government did not
restrict Muslims from praying there.
The law permits religious education in state schools. Only personnel
authorized and trained by the Government may teach in schools. The
history of the Armenian Apostolic Church forms the basis of this
curriculum; many schools cover global religions in elementary school
and the history of the Armenian Apostolic Church in middle
school. Students may choose not to attend religious education
classes. Religious groups are not allowed to provide religious
instruction in schools, although registered groups may do so in
private homes to children of their members. On occasion, priests from
the Armenian Apostolic Church teach classes in religious history;
however, the use of public school buildings for religious
“indoctrination” is illegal.
The military employs Armenian Apostolic chaplains for each division,
but no other religious groups are represented in the chaplaincy.
The Government’s human rights ombudsman and the head of the Department
of Religious Affairs and National Minorities met with many minority
religious organizations during the period covered by this report.
Restrictions on Religious Freedom
During the period covered by this report, most registered religious
groups reported no serious legal impediments to their
activities. However, the 1991 freedom of conscience law prohibits
“proselytizing” (undefined in the law) and restricts unregistered
groups from publishing, broadcasting, or inviting official visitors to
the country. The prohibition on proselytizing applies to all groups,
including the Armenian Apostolic Church; however, the term used for
proselytizing implies that someone has been taken away from a “true”
faith, and the prohibition effectively restricts only minority
religious groups.
According to the head of the Department of Religious Affairs and
National Minorities, some minority religious groups, including the
Molokans and some Yezidi groups, have not sought registration.
Although the law prohibits foreign funding of foreign-based
denominations, the Government has not enforced the ban and considers
it unenforceable. A 1991 law required all religious organizations,
except the Armenian Apostolic Church, to obtain prior permission to
engage in public religious activities, travel abroad, or invite
foreign guests to the country. In 2001 this law was rescinded by
presidential order and, in practice, no travel restrictions were
imposed on any religious denomination.
On July 13, 2005, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)
officials reported that police officers briefly detained, harassed,
and threatened two foreign missionaries. The missionaries said that
one of the officers, after warning them to leave the country, placed
the barrel of his unloaded gun against one missionary’s head and
pulled the trigger. Church officials filed a police report, and the
Government opened an investigation. According to the Department of
Religious Affairs and National Minorities, Armenian Apostolic Church
officials filed a counter-complaint against the Mormons within a week
of the incident, alleging the missionaries were illegally
proselytizing on church grounds. Police officials claimed the officers
questioned the missionaries and asked them to stay away from the
church but denied that the questioning constituted harassment. On
October 4, 2005, a police inspector sent Mormon representatives a
letter informing members that the national police intended to drop the
investigation and leave the incident unresolved. Other religious
groups reported isolated events involving police officials questioning
missionaries and their acquaintances about their activities.
Abuses of Religious Freedom
The law on alternative military service took effect in 2004 and
allowed conscientious objectors, subject to government panel approval,
to perform either noncombatant military or civil service duties rather
than serve as conscripted military personnel. The law was applied to
subsequent draftees and those serving prison terms for draft
evasion. Conscientious objectors maintained, however, that military
control of the alternative labor service amounted to unacceptable
military service. An amendment to the law, which took effect on
January 26, 2006, criminalized evasion of alternative labor service.
According to leaders of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Yerevan, twenty-five
members of their religious group remained in prison for refusal, on
conscientious and religious grounds, to perform military service or
alternative labor service. An additional eighteen members signed
statements saying they would not leave the country pending the
completion of preliminary investigations, and six more were assigned
conditional punishment ranging from one to three years.
Representatives of the Jehovah’s Witnesses stated that all of the
prisoners were given the opportunity to serve an alternative to
military service rather than prison time, but that all refused because
the military retained administrative control of alternative
service. Twelve of those in prison reportedly received two-year
sentences.
There were reports that hazing of new conscripts was more severe for
minority group members such as Yezidis and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some
Yezidi leaders reported that police and local authorities subjected
their religious community to discrimination. Other Yezidi leaders
denied the allegations.
There was no officially sponsored violence reported against minority
religious groups during the period covered by this report. Other than
Jehovah’s Witnesses who were conscientious objectors, there were no
reports of religious prisoners or detainees.
Forced Religious Conversion
There were no reports of forced religious conversion, including of
minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally removed from
the United States, or of the refusal to allow such citizens to be
returned to the United States.
Section III. Societal Abuses and Discrimination
The generally amicable relationship among religious groups in society
contributed to religious freedom; however, societal attitudes toward
some minority religious groups were ambivalent.
The Armenian Apostolic Church is a member of the World Council of
Churches and, despite doctrinal differences, has friendly official
relations with major Christian denominations, including the Eastern
Orthodox churches, the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, and
some Protestant churches.
Suppressed through seventy years of Soviet rule, the Armenian
Apostolic Church has trained priests and committed material resources
to fill the spiritual void created by the demise of communist
ideology. Nontraditional religious organizations are viewed with
suspicion. Representatives of foreign?based denominations frequently
cited as evidence statements including “one God, one country, one
church,” noting they had been warned against “stealing souls” from the
Armenian Apostolic Church.
Societal attitudes toward most minority religious groups were
ambivalent. Many citizens were not religiously observant, but the link
between religion and Armenian ethnicity is strong.
According to some observers, the general population expressed negative
attitudes about Jehovah’s Witnesses, because the latter refused to
serve in the military, engaged in little understood proselytizing
practices, and because of a widespread but unsubstantiated belief that
they pay the desperately poor to convert. Jehovah’s Witnesses
continued to be targets of hostile sermons by some Armenian Apostolic
Church clerics and experienced occasional societal discrimination. The
press reported a number of complaints for allegedly illegal
proselytizing lodged by citizens against members of Jehovah’s
Witnesses.
Some members of the press stoked suspicion of nontraditional religious
organizations. On April 4, 2006, an opposition newspaper published a
short editorial alleging that “a top police official” had information
that “religious sects” including Mormons and Pentecostals had enlisted
well-known criminals to protect the “sects'” interests against the
Government. The paper’s publishers claimed the unnamed source of the
article was “credible” and that the allegations were factual, but
despite repeated requests, they declined to elaborate on them.
On April 5, 2006, a pro-government tabloid published a short editorial
entitled, “Is the American University of Armenia being Mormonized?”
The writer claimed that the newspaper had learned from sources that “a
Mormon” would be appointed vice rector of the American
University. According to the authors, if the rumors were true, the
country would have taken a serious step, negative in the tabloid’s
view, toward “Mormonization.”
Flanked by Armenian Apostolic priests during an April 19, 2006, press
conference, Armenian Center for Rehabilitation and Assistance to
Victims of Destructive Cults Director Alexander Amaryan continued his
public assertions that the presence of nontraditional religious
institutions “threatens the spiritual life of Armenia.” Armenian
Apostolic priests alleged “religious sects,” which they identified as
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons, “conquered members of our flock” by
“abducting children and church members, and criticizing national
traditions.”
Unlike in previous years, the Jewish community reported no incidents
of verbal harassment during the period covered by this report. On
March 18, 2005, a court issued a three-year suspended sentence to the
leader of the Union of Armenian Aryans, in response to his conviction
on charges of public hostility for calling for the country to be
“purified” of Jews and Yezidis.
Section IV. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. government discusses religious freedom issues with the
Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights. The
U.S. ambassador and embassy officials maintain close contact with the
Catholicos at Etchmiadzin and with leaders of other religious and
ecumenical groups in the country. During the period covered by this
report, U.S. officials consistently raised the issue of alternatives
to military service with government officials. The embassy also
maintained regular contact with resident and visiting regional
representatives of foreign-based religious groups such as the Mormons
and raised their concerns with the Government. Embassy officials
closely monitor trials related to issues of religious freedom and take
an active role in policy fora and nongovernmental organization
roundtables regarding religious freedom.
The U.S. embassy hosted several roundtable meetings and receptions in
honor of U.S. representatives of religious organizations. Leaders of
local minority religious groups were regularly welcomed at these
events.
Released on September 15, 2006
Source: US State Dept.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA AND THE ELECTIONS: WHO DOES THE GERMAN CDU-SCU HELP IN BIH?
Written by Bakhtyar Aljaf (IFIMES)
Newropeans Magazine, France
Thursday, 14 September 2006
The International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES)
in Ljubljana, Slovenia, regularly analyses events in the Middle East
and the Balkans. On the occasion of the announced general elections in
Bosnia and Herzegovina which are to take place on 1 October 2006 IFIMES
has prepared an analysis of the current pre-election situation. The
most relevant and interesting sections from the comprehensive analysis
are given below.
On the occasion of the announced general elections in Bosnia and
Herzegovina which are to take place on 1 October 2006 IFIMES has
prepared an analysis of the current pre-election situation. At the
general elections the voters will elect the new three-member Presidency
of BiH, President and two Vice-Presidents of the Republic of Srpska
(RS), the House of Representatives at the state and entity levels
(Federation of BiH and RS) and ten Cantonal Assemblies. In total, 7,245
candidates from 36 parties and 8 coalitions as well as 12 independent
candidates have decided to contest for those positions. There are in
total 2,736,886 registered voters.
POLITICAL CONFRONTATION BETWEEN DODIK AND SILAJD~NIÆ
The forthcoming general elections which are to take place on 1 October
are becoming the most important event affecting almost all political
activities in BiH. The general political situation is characterised
by the efforts of the nationalistic political elite to remain in
power also in the next term of office.
Thus in the Republic of Srpska two opposing political blocks have
been formed: (1) SNSD, Socialist Party (SP), DNS etc. (2) SDS, the
Radicals etc.
During the debate on the constitutional amendments and their
non-adoption, two opposing political blocks have been formed also
in the Federation of BiH: (1) Party for BiH, SDU, BOSS etc. (2) SDA,
SDP etc.
At the state level the main political pre-election fight will be
fought between the opposing political blocks led by Haris Silajd~^iæ
from the Federation of BiH (Party for BiH) and Milorad Dodik from
the Republic of Srpska (SNSD).
The national parties (SDS, SDA and HDZ) are trying to keep their
position feeling jeopardised by the arrival of democratic forces
which are going to tackle the period of their regime marked by war,
genocide, organised crime and corruption, isolation of the state and
its obvious lagging behind development which is, in the long-term,
the main reason for the economic decay of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
During their reign the national parties (SDS, SDA and HDZ) “ensured”
Bosnia and Herzegovina a high position among the 158 states which
were the subject of the research on the level of corruption. At the
88th place BiH is in the same group as Armenia, Benin, Gabon, India,
Iran, Mali and Moldova (Source: Transparency International Corruption
Perceptions Index 2005).
The post-Second-World-War experience showed that the European
authorities managed to revive their states in record time and to
transform them into the most promising states in Europe thus setting
the foundations to the present European Union.
However, after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995) the
national parties have remained in power and continued to produce a
latent energy-consuming conflict between the nations which is the only
way for them to remain in power. On the other hand the economic and
social issues, despite their natural priority position, have remained
the secondary task due to which even 11 years after the war ended
Bosnia and Herzegovina has not managed to restore the infrastructure
nor to create the conditions for accelerating economic development,
which has aroused the feeling of dissatisfaction among all of its
nations and disappointment over the politics led in BiH during the
past 15 years.
In the Republic of Srpska thus SDS has, together with PDP and
supported by some radical Serbian movements, kept its citizens as
the prisoners of its politics which promoted criminal privatisation
flows, gradual undermining of the legal system and lagging behind
the modern economic and technologic developments in Europe and the
world. Merciless exploitation of national and natural resources have
impoverished the Republic of Srpska and its citizens. Extreme poverty
is especially felt in the eastern parts of the RS.
Having analysed the political and economic programmes of parties
and their political activities during the past years the IFIMES
International Institute has concluded that SNSD and SP are focused on
the economic and social issues of the four social classes and aim to
speed up the realisation of the macroeconomic programmes which can lead
to the accelerated and increased employment of the unemployed citizens.
Unemployment is namely the key indicator of social peace and
stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The citizens righteously
expect the political parties to make some radical changes which,
according to the IFIMES estimations, SNSD and SP are able carry out
in the Republic of Srpska. The forthcoming elections are therefore
of decisive importance for the Republic of Srpska.
ANNIHILATING POLITICS OF SDS, PDP and SRS
The annihilating regime of SDS, PDP and SRS has produced severe
far-reaching consequences which will have a long-term negative effect
on the development of the Republic of Srpska. Their politics has been
reduced to sheer fight for maintaining the position in the government,
using any means to win the favour of the High Representative for
BiH which often ended in a grovelling attitude towards international
officials in BiH due to which their politics often lost any sense.
Moreover, they used the methods characteristic of totalitarian regimes,
such as pre-arranged judicial processes against opposition leaders
(Milorad Dodik, Petar Ðokiæ, Marko Paviæ), unauthorised eavesdropping –
notably by “Telekom Srpske” in case of President of the Socialist Party
Petar Ðokiæ where this practices may well still continue since most of
the “Telekom Srpske” staff come from PDP and SDS. The paradoxicality
of the regime led by SDS and PDP lies in the fact that instead of
dealing with the criminal officials in SDS and PDP who have performed
various functions the competent public prosecutors are involved in
cases against opposition leaders in pre-arranged court proceedings
some of which are still ongoing.
The IFIMES International Institute has noted a characteristic behaviour
of the current RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik. Instead of abiding
by the political programme which he presented before being elected,
especially its economic aspect, he unfortunately uses the typical
nationalistic rhetoric which may, in the next period, commit him
to the nationally oriented voters and benefit the national parties
which are noted for their nationalistic rhetoric. Milorad Dodik thus
unknowingly helps the national parties and is consequently losing
his traditional voters to other political parties.
SULEJMAN TIHIÆ ASKED THE GERMAN CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS (CDU-CSU) FOR HELP?
A characteristic feature of BiH is the lack of transparency during
all previous election campaigns.
Although the Central Election Commission (CEC) is trying to control
the financing of election campaigns it is not very successful at
those attempts.
According to the results of the last elections in BiH the leading
party was SDA whose president Sulejman Tihiæ is also the current
Chairman of the BiH Presidency. According to the information IFIMES has
received from the Presidency, Sulejman Tihiæ asked the German Christian
Democrats CDU-CSU for assistance in the election campaign? Allegedly,
on behalf of CDU-CSU this assistance would be carried out by a known
German lobbying firm which is close to the right-oriented political
circles in Europe. Most probably Sulejman Tihiæ’s goal is to improve
his currently very poor position before the forthcoming elections and
thus to remain in power. IFIMES’s information on the activities in
the Presidency are alerting since it is the German energy lobby that
is hiding behind such “assistance”. As a return favour, the German
lobby would have wide open door for entering BiH. Tihiæ is to meet
the above representatives in the next few days.
The IFIMES International Institute believes that such assistance
provided by the German Christian Democrats (from the CDU-CSU circles)
to SDA which is an Islamic party would not be disputable if it
involved transparent donations and assistance not conditional on
additional favours which may be regarded as falling within the scope
of corruption and organised crime.
However, if other interests and intentions are hiding behind such
assistance from the German energy lobby, the whole case should be
examined by the competent public prosecutor and the Central Election
Commission.
–Boundary_(ID_MIdRy3h3knp/s lUd+Dok+Q)–

‘THE SIX’ TO DISCUSS ISSUE OF IRAN IN NEW YORK
By Petros Keshishian
AZG Armenian Daily
15/09/2006
Ahmadinejad Sees No Reasons for Punishment Measures against Iran
US State Secretary Rise stated yesterday that the coming meeting of
the foreign minister of “The Six” on the issue of the Iranian nuclear
program will take place in New York.
“I think it’s high time to evaluate what we have done and plan our
future actions,” she said, adding that the foreign ministers of “The
Six” member states are currently elaborating the formula for the UN
Security Council.
The matter concerns the probable economic sanctions against Iran,
as this country didn’t meet the demand of UN to stop concentrating
uranium till August 31.
It’s known that the coming meeting of the foreign minister of “The Six”
will be held within the framework of the 61st UN session.
RIA agency stated that Rice will arrive in New York for participation
in the UN session on September 17.
Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad, president of Iran, doubts that the UN Security
Council will take such punishment measures against Iran. He added that
his country is for unfolding negotiations and dialogues and they hope
that the issue will be settled within the framework of legal processes.
According to France Presse, he said that he sees no grounds for the
punishment measures. He kept saying that Iran carried out nuclear
researches for solely peaceful goals.

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 14, 2006
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL ATTEND ARMENIA-DIASPORA CONFERENCE; PRESIDE AT THE
DEDICATION OF NEW OFFICES
His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan will attend the third Armenia-Diaspora
conference in Armenia as part of the official delegation representing the
Holy See of Cilicia. The conference will begin on Monday, September 18 and
continue to September 20. The first such conference took place in September
1999 and the second in May 2002.
On the evening of Tuesday, September 19, His Eminence will preside over
the official opening of the new offices of the St. Nerses the Great
Charitable and Social Organization, which oversees the Eastern Prelacy’s
charitable work in Armenia and Artsakh. The new office will be named “The
Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian Center,” in honor of the late Prelate who
established and named the agency in 1993.
VICAR GENERAL WILL TRAVEL TO SPRINGFIELD
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, the Vicar General, will travel to
Springfield/Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, this weekend where on Sunday he
will officiate over the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory Church.
BISHOP ANOUSHAVAN ATTENDS ANNIVERSARY OF
MALANKARA ORTHODOX CHURCH
Bishop Anoushavan represented Archbishop Oshagan at the 25th anniversary
of St. Mary Malankara Orthodox Church, on Saturday, September 9. The
Malankara Orthodox Church is one of five churches in the Oriental Orthodox
family, which includes the Armenian Church.
BISHOP ANOUSHAVAN ATTENDS ECUMENICAL SERVICE
Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy and Ecumenical
Officer on behalf of the Holy See of Cilicia in the United States, attended
an ecumenical service on the occasion of the opening of the 61st session of
the United Nations General Assembly. The service took place at the Holy
Family Catholic Church in New York City, on Monday evening, September 11 and
was hosted by the Vatican’s Apostolic Nuncio to the United Nations. U.N.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan spoke.
EPISCOPAL CONSECRATION OF BISHOP ANOUSHAVAN
WILL BE CELEBRATED ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 1
Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the celebration in honor of the
recent Episcopal consecration of Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian. A
community-wide banquet will take place on Sunday, October 1 at 3 pm at the
Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows, New York. In the morning, Bishop
Anoushavan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York, a parish he served for more than a decade. Bishop
Anoushavan’s elevation and consecration took place on June 4, in ceremonies
officiated by Catholicos Aram I in the Cathedral of St. Gregory the
Illuminator in Antelias, Lebanon.
NEW SERIES OF BIBLE STUDY AT PRELACY
An eight-session course on the “Letter to the Hebrews” will start on
Monday, October 2, at the Prelacy from 7:15 pm to 8:45 pm, and will continue
to be held on the first and third Mondays of the month. Sponsored by the
Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the course will be conducted by
Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of AREC.
The Letter to the Hebrews is a profound homily, a “word of exhortation”
(Hebrews 13:22). One of the main themes of the Letter is that the old
covenant has been superseded through the sacrificial death of Christ. And
for that reason, studying the Letter to the Hebrews gives a solid biblical
understanding of the “Soorp Badarak” (Holy Sacrifice) that we celebrate on
Sundays.
Registration is required (suggested donation: $25). For registration and
information, please call 212-689-7810 or e-mail at [email protected].
CHILDREN’S CONCERT ON NOVEMBER 18
WILL CELEBRATE THE “COLORS OF FALL”
With the extraordinary success of the Prelacy’s Children’s Concert two
years ago, another concert for children will take place on Saturday
afternoon, November 18, at Florence Gould Hall, at the Alliance Francaise in
New York City, featuring the talented and popular TALINE AND FRIENDS, from
California.
The theme of the concert will be “Fall Colors” (Ashnan Kouyner). Tickets
are $20 each and can be purchased by contacting the Prelacy office,
212-689-7810, Ext. 26.
MIDWEST DATEV PROGRAM NOVEMBER 10-12
The popular summer Datev program goes on the road again with a weekend
program scheduled in the Midwest, November 10 to 12, at the Colombiere
Retreat and Conference Center, Clarkston, Michigan.
The program will include interactive presentations and instructions on
faith-related topics, discussions of religious and current issues, Bible
studies, short worship services, fellowship and recreational activities.
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian and Deacon Shant Kazanjian will be the
instructors and facilitators. For information contact Carolyn Sirian at
248-553-7585 ([email protected]) or Deacon Shant Kazanjian at 212-689-7810
([email protected]).
WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES FIRST MEETING
The first meeting of the World Council of Churches’ new Central
Committee took place in Geneva from August 30 to September 6. Participating
on behalf of the Armenian Church were Bishop Vicken Aikazian and Mrs. Paul
Devedjian for the Catholicosate of All Armenians; and Bishop Nareg
Alemezian and Dr. Nora Bairakdarian-Kabakian for the Catholicosate of
Cilicia.
The Armenian Church will have the following representatives in the WCC
consultative bodies for the next seven years:
Faith and Order Standing Commission: Bishop Nathan Hovhannissian
(Etchmiadzin). Faith and Order Plenary Commission: Bishop Vicken Aikazian
(Etchmiadzin), Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian (Cilicia). Commission on World
Mission and Evangelism: Ms. Nayiri Baljian (Cilicia). Commission of the
Churches on International Affairs: Ms. Tsovinar Ghazaryan (Etchmiadzin), Ms.
Vanna Kitsinian (Cilicia). Joint Working Group between the Roman Catholic
Church and the World Council of Churches: Bishop Vicken Aikazian
(Etchmiadzin). Joint Commission between Christian World Communions and the
World Council of Churches: Bishop Nareg Alemezian (Cilicia). Youth Body: Ms.
Nayiri Baljian (Cilicia).
FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
This Sunday, September 17, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of
the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khachverats), which is one of the five
Tabernacle (Daghavar) Feasts commemorated by the Armenian Church. This
holiday is a general celebration of the Cross and is commemorated by all of
Christendom. Most churches celebrate it on September 14; the Armenian Church
celebrates it on the Sunday closest to the 14th. The Cross, once a means of
death for criminals, gradually became the dominant symbol of the Christian
world and an object of reverence and worship. There are four feasts of the
Holy Cross in the Armenian Church with the Exaltation being the most
important. The ceremony begins with the decoration of the Cross with sweet
basil, symbolizing the “living cross”. After Bible readings, the officiating
priest lifts the Cross and makes the sign of the cross with it, and blesses
the four corners of the world (Antasdan) and asks the Almighty to grant
peace and prosperity to the people of the world.
The Khachverats ceremony was first prepared by Catholicos Sahag
Dzoraporetsi (677-703). He is also the composer of the hymn sung on this
occasion.
As with the other Tabernacle Feasts, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is
preceded by a period of Fasting (Monday to Friday), and followed by a
memorial day (Monday).
15th ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE
Next Thursday, September 21, Armenians worldwide will be commemorating
the 15th anniversary of Armenia’s declaration of independence from the
Soviet Union.
Various events in Armenia and the Diaspora will mark this occasion. Here
in New York City the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia is
presenting a concert, “Now & Then: Music in Armenia after Khachaturian,” at
Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center, 129 West 67th Street. For
tickets: 212-501-3330.
GIVING WEEDS A CHANCE..
As those of you who have been following our gardening stories know, this
season our vegetable garden was dormant, for a variety of reasons. So, we
decided to give weeds an opportunity for redemption. We sat back and did
nothing. The result was not pretty! We have the ugliest looking weeds ever
seen. Ever the groundhogs want no part of them. Secretly I had hoped that
left on its own, our garden would produce large quantities of an edible weed
called purslane (PerPer), a very hearty plant known to grow in most unlikely
places-like cracks in the sidewalk. Most of America considers purslane a
weed (like crabgrass) to be destroyed at all cost, and tons of chemicals are
used each year on lawns across the U.S. (Sometime we will share our thoughts
on the American obsession with lawns). Lately, the great virtues of purslane
are being touted, because it has been found to be extremely high in many
nutrients, especially omega-3-higher than in some seafood. I suppose it was
inevitable that some of our upscale restaurants would get wind of this. We
understand that Thomas Keller’s Per Se restaurant in the Time Warner Center
in New York (where a single meal can cost in the hundreds) has been offering
a “Baby Purslane Salad,” dressed in olive oil and vinegar.
As for our weeds: We anxiously await our first frost.
We end this week with this quote…
“This tragic day should become a universal day of remembrance of similar
tragedies in the past decade. It should become a day when we commit
ourselves to respect human life and its sacredness as a gift of God and not
to be used as a weapon for any cause. Religion, as a moral and a spiritual
force, should lead the way in this commitment.”
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, speaking
about the September 11 anniversary.
Calendar of Events
September 15-2nd Annual Golf Outing of All Saints Church, at Hilldale Golf
Club, Hoffman Estates, Illinois. For reservations and/or information,
847-858-7685.
September 17-Sunday School registration and fellowship, Holy Trinity
Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, following the Divine
Liturgy.
September 17-First Annual Lobster Fest, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 215-482-9200.
September 17-Annual Picnic, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, on the
church grounds, following church services and the blessing of Basil. For
information: 718-224-2275.
September 18-11th Annual ACEC/School golf outing at Stow Acres Country Club,
Stow, Massachusetts. For information, 781-326-5764.
September 22-Family Night at St. Gregory Armenian Church of Merrimack
Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, 6 pm at Jaffarian Hall.
September 22-23-Retreat, “Nurturing Faith,” for Sunday School teachers and
staff of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
September 25-Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts, 3rd Annual Golf Outing and Award Dinner at Raceway Golf
Course, Thompson, Connecticut. Registration 7:30 a.m. For information
508-872-9629 or church office 508-852-2414.
September 25-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
Third Annual Golf Outing. For information, 215-482-9200.
September 28-4th Annual Golf Outing hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey. Bergen Hills Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey.
For reservations and/or information: 201-943-2950.
October 1-Banquet honoring Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian on the occasion of
his recent elevation, at Terrace on the Park, Flushing Meadows, New York, 3
pm. Details will follow.
October 2-New eight-session Bible study on the “Letter to the Hebrews”
begins at the Prelacy, 7:15 pm to 8:45 pm, first and third Mondays of the
month, sponsored by AREC. Conducted by Dn. Shant Kazanjian. For information:
212-689-7810.
October 8-81st anniversary celebration of St. Stephen Church, New Britain,
Connecticut.
October 19-22-Annual bazaar, Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland.
October 22-Holy Cross Church, Troy, NY, anniversary celebration.
November 3-4- Ladies Guild Food Festival, St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
November 3, 4, 5-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Annual
Bazaar and Food Festival. For information 201-943-2950.
November 5-Annual bazaar, St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut.
November 5-36th Anniversary Luncheon and program, St. Gregory Armenian
Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts.
November 10-12-Mini Datev program for teens, ages 13 to 18. At Colombiere
Retreat Conference Center in Clarkston, Michigan.
November 11-42nd Anniversary of Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, in
the church hall.
November 11-12-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, annual “Armenian Fest” at
Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island.
November 17 & 18-Annual Bazaar, Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church,
Worcester, Massachusetts.
November 18-Children’s Concert, GIVING THANKS, sponsored by the Eastern
Prelacy at Florence Gould Hall, Alliance Francaise, New York City, featuring
TALINE AND FRIENDS. Details will follow.
November 26-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
First Episcopal Badarak in Philadelphia by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian.
December 9-Men’s Club Steak Dinner, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
December 24-Sunday School Christmas Pageant, St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Visit our website at

ARMENIAN DASHNAKTSUTIUN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATION (ADRF) IS GOING TO NOMINATE ITS OWN PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER IN 2008 IN ARMENIA
REGNUM
September 13, 2006
Armen Rustamyan: “ADRF may become opposed, if …”
As a REGNUM correspondent informs, on September 12, ADRF Supreme
Body representative, permanent parliamentary Commission on Foreign
Affairs Head Armen Rustamyan stressed that any decision on party’s
participation in presidential elections and its strategy should be
approved by the ADRF Supreme Assembly at its session in 2007. Besides
that, the party’s participation in presidential elections depends on
parliamentary elections’ outcomes in 2007.
“The party position may be changed after the parliamentary
elections. First, it depends on elections’ transparency and their
conducting without violations and second on MPs’ number at country’s
parliament. We realize; for further country’s development, guaranteeing
democratization’s process, securing by Armenia its own place in
region, fair elections without falsifications should be held. If
the elections are hold with violations, ARFD will become opposed,”
Armen Rustamyan stressed.
Besides that, if there is not necessary number of seats after
parliamentary elections, ARDF may refuse to take part in establishing
new government. “If we do not have necessary number of seats and
we are not able to solve accumulated questions, our governmental
participation will have no sense,” Armen Rustamyan concluded.

BAKU DECLARATION OF 5TH SESSION OF THE ICTM CONDEMNS DELIBERATE DESTRUCTION OF ISLAMIC MONUMENTS BY ARMENIA
APA
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
12 Sep 2006
The fifth session of the Islamic Conference Tourism Ministers has
come to an end today. Baku Declaration and Resolution was adopted at
the end of the Session, APA reports.
The Deceleration reflects reaffirmation of previous conferences and
meetings, being committed to policy of openness and close cooperation
with the world’s relevant international organizations operating in
the field of tourism and cultural exchanges such as UNWTO and UNESCO,
reiteration of Islam as a religion of Pease and advocating principles
of appreciation of human values, tolerance with regard to religion
and races and peaceful coexistence of all nations, the vital role of
diplomacy in the development of tourism.
The Declaration reads that terrorism, conflicts, territorial
occupation, natural disasters, epidemics and economic crises
seriously harm the economic development and negatively affect
the tourism potential of the Member States. It also says that the
important role of tourism for intercultural exchanges, preservation and
popularization of Islamic historical and cultural heritage, promotion
of better knowledge and mutual understanding among civilizations
as well as the role of the tourism can play in overall improvement
of the image of Islam. In the Declaration it was decided to join
efforts toward increasing the tourism flow among the Member States,
create favourable climate for investment projects in the sector
of tourism and related activities, urge member States to actively
participate in tourism fairs in OIC countries, promote youth tourism,
develop tourism in costal and rural types of tourism, simplification
of visa issuance procedures with non-OIC countries, condemn any
manifestation of terrorism and aggressive separatism and stress the
importance of expeditious solution of conflicts, all of which have
detrimental impact on tourism and on the exercise of peoples’ right for
leisure and travel, strong condemn the illegal exploitation of natual
resources and the destruction of cultural and historical monuments
in the territories of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia as well as the
deliberate destruction of Islamic cultural and historic monuments in
the territory of Armenia in accordance with the norms and principles
of international law, particularly those related to the territorial
integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders of
a state.
The other adopted document- a resolution endorses the efforts of
ICCI aimed at encouraging the private sector to play its due role in
promoting tourism and takes note of the initiative of ICCI to establish
an International Tourism Company, adaptation of open visa for the
movement of businessmen among the OIC member states, facilitating
of the movement of media people among the movement States in order
to utilize the media to serve the purposes of tourism, promote youth
tourism in OIC countries, condemn Israeli aggression.
The Declaration expresses gratitude to Mr. Ilham Aliyev for kindly
patronizing the Conference and for his guidance-giving speech he
delivered at the opening ceremony as well as thanks to the government
and the people of Azerbaijan for the warm welcome and generous
hospitality extended to the delegations.

SPEAKER OF IRANIAN MAJLIS CONSIDERS ARMENIAN-IRANIAN INTERSATE RELATIONS AS EXEMPLARY FOR REGION
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The
centuries-old neighbor Iran has beeen the most effective partner,
especially in Armenia’s difficult time when a blockade was imposed
on the country. The Speaker of the RA National Assembly Tigran
Torosian stated that during a tete-a-tete talk with the Speaker
of the Iranian Majlis Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel on September 11. The
NA Speaker expressed his satisfaction that Iran’s majlis speaker
is paying a visit to Armenia for the first time since Armenia’s
independence. In terms of bilateral relations, the parliamentary
speaker attached importance to the cooperation in the energy sector,
highlighting the programs on construction of the gas pipeline and the
hydropower plant on the River Arax, and the third high-volatge power
transmission line. Tigran Torosian expressed his gratitude to majlis’
speaker for his favorable treatment of the Iranian Armenians. In
connection with the developments related to Iran’s nuclear program,
Tigran Torosian expressed a hope that further problems will be solved
through negotiations. Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel considered the interstate
relations as exemplary for the region, saying that these relations
have entered a new stage after the mutual visits of the two countries’
presidents. He said that the Armenians have always been treated with
respect in Iran, as evidenced by the Armenian deputies’ presence
in the majlis. After the tete-a-tete talk, a meeting took place
between the delegation headed by the Iranian Majlis’ Speaker and the
RA National Assembly Speaker, the NA Vice Speaker Vahan Hovhannisian,
as well as representatives of the NA standing committees, factions and
groups. Tigran Torosian expressed confidence that the current visit
provides a basis for deepening the interparliamentary relations. The
majlis’ speaker underlined the importance of Iran’s balanced and
discreet position on the issue of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The
NA Speaker also spoke about the careful treatment of the Armenian
cultural monuments in Iran, unlike another neighbor that desproys
these monuments. Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel noted that his country’s
foreign policy is based on Islam which does not allow to form its
foreign policy in the interests of one group at the expense of other
groups. He pointed out the importance of strengthening the relations
with Armenia, of further cooperation in the energy sector and said
that his country is in favor of the peaceful settlement of the Nagono
Karabakh conflict and continuation of the negoatiations between the
two countries’ presidents. According to the RA National Assembly PR
Department, the memebers of the delegation headed by Iran’s majlis
speaker met in the parliament with the Armenia-Iran Frienship Deputy
Group. Galust Sahakian, head of the Armenia-Iran Friendship Deputy
Group, noted that the political and economic links between the two
countries are strengthening, the interparliamentary friendship is
deepening. It was mentioned that the year 2006 was a fruitful one
in terms of cooperation between the two countries’ parliaments:
a group of Armenian MPs paid a working visit to Iran recently and
had several important meetings there. Gevorg Vardan, co-chairman
of the Iran-Armenia Friendship Deputy Group, also highlighted the
cooperation between the two countries and parliaments, noting that
interparliamentary links have reached the level of economic relations.

AUA TEAM CLIMBS TO THE PEAK OF MASIS
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 12 2006
On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of Armenia’s independence
the 15th anniversary of foundation of the American University of
Armenia (AUA), a group comprised of six faculty members and friends
of the University climbed to the peak of Masis mountain on August
27. Today AUA President Haroutyun Armenian shared his impressions
with journalists.
Before heading for the peak of Masis, the group underwent certain
physical and psychological training, climbing to the peaks of some
Armenian mountains – Azhdahak, Ara Ler, Armaghan, etc. The team
started its tour from Dogubayazet city of Turkey.
“The first expression on the peak of Masis was protest,” AUA President
Haroutyun Armenian said.

ISESCO BLAMES ARMENIA`S AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS TOWARD AZERBAIJANI CULTURAL HERITAGE
Author: S. Agayeva
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2006
ISESCO condemns aggressive actions taken by Armenia toward Azerbaijani
cultural heritage, Abdulaziz Eltvaidjiri, Director of Islamic Science,
Education, and Culture Organization (ISESCO) told journalists today,
Trend reports.
According to him, the organization resolutely blames the Armenian
aggression against Azerbaijan that contradicts all international norms
and regulations. “There were facts on violating international law on
the territory of Azerbaijan”, he told. “Armenia`s aggressive actions
against Azerbaijani historic and cultural heritage left on the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan contradict international law”, he added.
ISESCO Director pointed out that the organization is about to bring
all these facts to the notice of the international community and
authoritative and powerful international organizations.