Author: Torgomian Varazdat

RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS SKIP PREPARATION FOR BAPTISM

Indian Catholic
October 9, 2008
India

TASHKENT (UCAN) — Every day, people line up outside the baptistery
of Holy Assumption Church in Tashkent while waiting to be baptized,
but hardly any show up beforehand for catechism classes.

The church’s priests are busy, so catechist Michael Belov offers
"optional" catechism classes twice a week. The seminary graduate told
UCA News most people seek baptism due to their ethnicity, "because
they are Russians," but they seldom appear in church thereafter,
except at Christmas and Easter.

Compared to the Soviet communist era, Tashkent’s main Russian Orthodox
church today seems to be enjoying a revival, with about 100 people
being baptized every week. Most are ethnic Russians, though there
are also Tatars, Koreans, Armenians and a few Uzbeks.

Belov questions their motivation. Full churches on important religious
holidays does not testify to the people’s faith, he insists, because
they often go to church just "for fun" on such occasions.

Father Sergei Nikolaev, a senior priest at the church, explained
to UCA News, "Optional catechism is the result of the agnostic
and communist legacy from which the Church is still suffering." He
mentioned paganism when speaking about people who seek baptism as a
tradition or for fear of sickness or misfortune. "People should be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ," he said.

Nevertheless, he continued, church for many Russians still is where
one goes merely to honor tradition. Many people nowadays go to
church to baptize infants or for services for the dead. Money for
such services, plus the US$10 fee charged for each baptism, brings
income into the church.

Massgoers seeking intervention buy and light candles in front of
images of saints. Only a handful of them remain in the church for
the whole liturgy.

"People buy candles but don’t ask for books," he remarked, referring
to the church bookshop he runs. Besides religious literature, it also
offers DVDs such as Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Belov
will soon leave all that behind when he goes to Moscow for higher
religious schooling.

Father Nektariy, another Orthodox priest, told UCA News he thinks
catechism should be compulsory. "Today, we are glad if three out of
20 baptized later come to Mass," he said.

This is why people are taught about Christianity during the baptism
ceremony itself, since most are ignorant about the faith they are
about to embrace.

At a baptism ceremony on Sept. 14, Father Alexander gave the
people briefly introduced their faith in modern Russian, though the
one-hour ceremony was conducted in old Russian. The liturgy of the
Russian Orthodox Church still uses the old language, but few if any
understand it.

"I want you to know at least something about Orthodoxy," Father
Alexander told the new converts as he guided them through the process
since they seemed unsure what to do. He once had to cancel the baptism
of a young man who had been baptized before. "People told me I should
do it again," he explained.

During the ceremony, the priest dips the new converts in the pool, then
baptizes and confirms them. Both sacraments are administered together.

Some people seem uncertain about why they seek baptism. Lada, an
Armenian woman in her 40s who says she goes to church and prays in
her own way, told UCA News she asked to be baptized because she wants
her friend, who is Russian, to be her godfather.

Another woman, Natalia Motovilova, was asked why she decided to
have her seven-year-old son baptized. Her only response was that she
"needed to."

Compared to the local Russian Orthodox church, the Catholic Sacred
Heart parish in Tashkent has only about 15 baptisms a year. "When
people understand we require long preparation, they leave," Father
Lucjan Szymanski, the pastor, told UCA News. Most people, he said,
"want to have it all, and at once."

The Polish Conventual Franciscan thinks an abbreviated catechism
course means people will leave the Church in the future. "People need
time to make a deliberate choice that they will not change later,"
he said. Accordingly, catechism in his parish lasts at least two
years before one may be baptized.

Father Szymanski finds the Russian Orthodox Church situation like
that of the Catholic Church before the Second Vatican Council
(1962-1965). "But I am sure our Orthodox brothers will work it out,
sooner or later," he said.

YOVANOVITCH: U.S.-ARMENIA BUSINESS CONTACTS EXPAND

ARKA
Oct 9, 2008

YEREVAN, October 9. /ARKA/. The U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie
Yovanovitch pointed out the trend toward expansion of U.S.-Armenia
business contacts at her meeting with Armenian Minister of Economy
Nerses Yeritsyan.

Yovanovitch expressed satisfaction with the existing trade and
economic links between the countries, the Press Service of the
Ministry reported.

The Minister briefed the Ambassador on the government priorities,
the work done and future plans. He also stressed the importance of
the sitting of Working Group of Armenian-American intergovernmental
commission on economic cooperation to be held in Washington in late
November.

Yeritsyan informed the Ambassador about the measures taken for the
country to achieve superiority in the fields of education, healthcare,
finance, business environment and tourism.

A special National Competitiveness Council has been set up for this
purpose, Yerisyan said. He also said that Armenia will try to sign
a full-fledged free trade agreement with Europe. The Ambassador
made appraisal of the government programs and wished the Minister
successful implementation.

LAVROV’S ANNOUNCEMENTS AT LEAST ALARMING
Lilit Poghosyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
09 Oct 2008
Armenia

In response to the questions of the correspondent of "Hayots
Ashkharh" daily head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the NKR
National Assembly Vahram Atanesyan touches upon the accentuations of
"Karabakh" in Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview
given to "Rosiyskaya Gazeta".

"To start with, the announcements made by Mr. Lavrov in that interview
don’t match with the one made earlier by RF Foreign Ministry, according
to which Karabakh conflict must be solved based on the principle of
respecting Karabakh people’s right to sovereignty, something that
seemed to reflect the approaches adopted by Minsk Group Co-Chairmen,
particularly Russia.

The conversation is firstly about the accentuation made by Mr. Lavrov
saying that Armenia’s opportunities are strictly limited in political,
geopolitical, and communicational terms. It is more alarming that the
RF Foreign Minister, in essence hints that the other conflicting party,
Azerbaijan has "great opportunities" for choice and alternatives,
which in my view is beyond diplomatic ethics.

Particularly if we consider the fact that Russia is OSCE Co-Chairman
country. In this circumstance emphasizing the "advantages" of one
conflicting party and the "limited opportunities" of the ot her is
far from being a neutral stance.

It is startling also because Sergey Lavrov made this accentuation
against the background of Turkey’s emphasized activeness in the region
and the latter’s affectations to raise its influence.

In fact the Russian Foreign Minister indirectly links the success of
the negotiation process with Turkey’s role, hinting that Turkey can
ensure communicational alternatives for Armenia, exit to the world,
of which Armenia was deprived during the Georgian-Ossetian conflict
and after it.

Maybe my concern is exaggerated, but at least for me Lavrov’s interview
was alarming."

"Did RF Foreign Minister say anything new about the main process of
the negotiations, or he simply repeated the famous reality, such as
the majority of the settlement principles is agreed, except certain
matters of concern, about which the two parties haven’t yet reached
an agreement."

"In general he didn’t say anything new. But as a representative of
a Co-Chairman country he gave a possibility to Azerbaijani party to
make revelations regarding proposals discussed.

Sergey Lavrov recorded that there are two-three issues not agreed
upon. One of them is the status of Lachin corridor, which was followed
by the revelation made by an Azerbaijani high-ranking official,
who said that the status of Nagorno Karabakh and Lachin corridor as
well as the distribution of the peace- keeping forces are not agreed
upon. Whereas not only should the parties maintain the confidentiality
of the negotiations, but also the mediators, and this fact is also
no less alarming.

Thus if we take into consideration Mr. Lavrov’s commentaries, Russia
has already discussed its stance on Karabakh, with Azerbaijan and
Turkey. This fact is also alarming. Moreover it seems the stances of
the "parties" and their actions are agreed upon.

Maybe they think if in the beginning of the past century Karabakh’s
legal-political status quo has been decided by the mediation of Russia
and Turkey, the same can happen today. Or if Russia has unilaterally
recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, then they
must provide services for Turkey for the latter’s loyalty.

"At the expense of Karabakh?"

"I would like to abstain from similar formulations. Our stance,
the position of Karabakh party, and my own standpoint is that the
issue must be settled by mutual concessions. We don’t want unilateral
recognition, if it is going to make new demarcation lines. But we also
don’t agree to the idea that the existing demarcation lines must be
mitigated to the detriment of NKR’s sovereignty and the security of
Karabakh people.

The settlement of the conflict through mutual concessions must be based
on agreement reached by the direct dialogue between Nagorno Karabakh
and Azerbaijan. In my view the diplomatic efforts of the Co-Chairmen,
including Russia must be based on reducing the direct parties to the
conflict, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh to the same denominator,
which is – the conflict doesn’t have any other alternative except
peaceful settlement.

To be continued

THROWING THE BLAME FOR THE 10 MURDERS ON POLITICAL PRISONERS?

A1+
[07:29 pm] 07 October, 2008

Pan-Armenian movement representative Levon Zurabyan weighs up the
Yerevan city council’s denial to hold a meeting on Northern Avenue
as exclusive and award-winning. On September 29, "Republic" party
political council president Aram Sargsyan’s authorized representative
Artak Zeynalyan sent a notice to the Yerevan city council to hold a
mass public meeting on October 17, however, according to the notice,
the meeting is going to kick off at Northern Avenue and end with
a march.

"This time the authorities made an award-winning allegation based
on the violation of the right of proprietors; however, the law on
meetings, marches and demonstrations does not state anything about
that. In other words, this formulation is very weak from the juridical
point of view," said Levon Zurabyan. He also told A1+ that the denial
of the Yerevan city council is being protested in the Administrative
Court and the hearing will take place today.

Despite the outcome, Levon Zurabyan promised members of the Armenian
National Congress that the meeting will take place on October 17 on
Northern Avenue as promised.

Zurabyan also touched upon the October 2 statement made by the PACE
monitoring commission. According to him, it was a late, yet important
evaluation by the Council of Europe which states that imprisonment
of people for political views is unacceptable.

The PACE monitoring commission members don’t refer to the prisoners as
political prisoners, but that doesn’t worry Levon Zurabyan. According
to him, there are currently 75 political prisoners in Armenia who are
members of the opposition and the authorities are not only keeping
them hostage, but are also trying to use them to solve their issues.

Perhaps they are not giving answers because everything is clear. In
response to that, Levon Zurabyan said that the authorities are
busy trying to hide the facts. They have sent seven cases of state
appropriation to court and have attached the accusations of those
seven to the descriptions of the ten murders. Thus, the authorities
are trying to throw the blame for the ten murders on the seven
political prisoners.

Zurabyan added that he was not making it up because authority
officials had said that they couldn’t blame the murders on anyone
if they released all political prisoners. So, they are keeping the
prisoners hostage in order to forget about the crime.

INSTC MEETING OPENS IN BAKU

Tehran Times Economic Desk
October 8, 2008

TEHRAN – Railway officials from Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan held a
meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Tuesday to discuss ways for expediting
the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) plan.

Iran, Russia, India, and Oman signed a memorandum of understanding in
September 2000 for the establishment of the INSTC that is considered
as one of the important trade routes linking Southeast Asian counties
to Russia, Central Asian states, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe,
IRNA reported.

Establishing some eight kilometers of railroad in Azerbaijan mainland
and linking it to Iran’s national railway network will also be
discussed in the meeting.

Based on the plan, some 300 kilometers of railroads will be established
inside Iran.

Iran, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Oman, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan,
Armenia, Syria, Ukraine, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, and Bulgaria constitute
the 14 members of the INSTC plan.

Mohammadreza Keimanesh, the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways deputy

ZILDJIAN CELEBRATES WITH 385TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT
Rob Hughes

miPRO
zildjian385.com
Oct 6 2008, 3:27pm
UK

Ginger Baker to be honoured at Drummers Achievement Awards To celebrate
its 385th anniversary, leading cymbal manufacturer Zildjian will host
its Drummers Achievement Awards in London this year. The awards will
take place for the first time in the UK at the Shepherds Bush Empire
on Sunday December 7, 2008.

The event is set to be a performance led night with drumming legend
Ginger Baker (due to be honoured at the ceremony) joined onstage
by Cream sidekick Jack Bruce and African legend Tony Allen. Also in
attendance will be some of the world’s greatest drummers including
Simon Phillips, Steve White and Keith Carlock. More special guests
are to be announced in the coming weeks and tickets will be made
available to the public.

Zildjian – meaning ‘son of a cymbal maker’ in Armenian – is one of the
oldest and longest running family businesses in the world. In 1998, the
family created the American Drummers Achievement Award to acknowledge
the remarkable contribution that drumming has made to contemporary
music. The awards honour those individuals who have made extraordinary
contributions to the art of drum set playing and to music itself.

South London born Ginger Baker enters the Zildjian hall of fame having
shot to fame in the 60s after joining one of the most successful and
influential British blues-rock groups ever – Cream.

RotosoundGinger, alongside band mates Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce went
on to receive five gold albums and were one of the first ever bands
to attain a platinum disc. His flamboyant performances and pioneering
use of two bass drums in place of the conventional single kick drum
instantly set new standards for rock drummers throughout the world.

In 1969 Ginger left Cream with bandmate Eric Clapton to form Blind
Faith with Rick Grech and Steve Winwood and later went on to release
his own material including Ginger Baker’s Air Force. Cream re-formed
in 2005 and packed out arenas around the world to critical acclaim.

For ticket information visit: or to
book tickets online visit: The box office can
be contacted on 0844 477 2000

The Zildjian Drummers Achievement Awards are sponsored by Rhythm
Magazine UK and Yamaha Music UK.

IRAN TO START GAS EXPORTS TO ARMENIA BY OCT. 13

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.10.2008 13:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran will start gas exports to Armenia by October
13, the director of the gas export operation office of the National
Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) said here on Sunday.

"Armenia also started electricity export to Iran on Sunday," Rasoul
Salmani added, IRINN reported.

"Iran plans to annually export some 1.1 billion cubic meters of gas
to Armenia. In the first phase Iran will export less volume to Armenia
but will increase the export volume gradually, and in 2019 will raise
it to 2.3 billion cubic meters" he explained.

"In return Iran will annually import 3.3 billion kw/h of electricity
from Armenia," Rasuli stated.

The 100km Iranian section runs from Tabriz to the Iran-Armenia
border. The Armenian section runs from Meghri region to Sardarian.

Iran is expected to supply all of Armenia’s gas needs within the next
two years. The total outlay for the pipeline is about $28.2 million.

Czech parliamentary delegation to visit Armenia

armradio.am
04.10.2008 17:21

Members of the Commission on Constitutional and Legal Issues of the
Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic headed by Vice-Speaker Jan
Kasal will arrive in Armenia on October 6.

On September 7 members of the delegation are expected to have meetings
with the Chairman of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan,
Vice-Speaker Hrayr Karapetyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on
State and Legal Issues David Harutyunyan and members of the Committee.
At Tsitsernakaberd members of the delegation will lay a wreath at the
memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims.

On October 8 meetings with the President of the Constitutional Court
Gagik Harutyunyan, Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan, President
of the Administrative Court Tigran Mukuchyan are expected.

On October 9 the Czech delegation will be received by the President of
the Court of Appeal Edward Muradyan.

On October 10 the delegation will be received by the First Deputy
Minister of Justice Gevorg Malkhasyan, Human Rights Defender Armen
Harutyunyan and the Deputy Prosecutor General.

V. OSKANIAN: BORDER’S OPENING – A CRITERION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS’ NORMALIZATION

DeFacto Agency
2008-10-02 15:20:00
Armenia

YEREVAN, 02.10.08. DE FACTO. According to the RA ex FM Vardan Oskanian,
estimation of activation of the process around Armenian-Turkish
relations is untimely. Oskanian stated it during a press conference
held in Yerevan on the occasion of official opening of CIVILITAS Fund
he heads.

"Naturally, both the President and FM are quite active. It should
be added that Turkish President’s visit was also unprecedented. So
we are engaged in ebullient activity, however, time will show its
practical results. Consequently, I would like to refrain from specific
estimations", Vardan Oskanian stated. As for Turkey’s willingness to
participate in Karabakh settlement as a mediator, in V. Oskanian’s
words, Turkey does not rank in the talks, since the border still
remains closed, while the railway is out of order.

In V. Oskanian’s opinion, there is a criterion of Armenian-Turkish
relations’ normalization – unblocking border with Armenia. According
to him, there are no other criteria. Or, at least, opening existing
railroad can be considered the beginning of normalization. "Unless it
takes place in the near future it will mean that Turkey politically
speculates on the opportunity it has been given", V. Oskanian
said. According to the diplomat, Turkish President’s visit to Yerevan
consolidated the country’s authority ten times, however, it has also
positively influenced on Armenia’s image.

Being asked to comment on Turkish President’s statement, according
to which the border will be opened, only in case "the occupied
territories" are "returned" to Azerbaijan V. Oskanian stated the
statement was not a surprise. "If Turkey connects the border’s opening
with the issues referring to the territories I have to state with
regret that nothing has been changed and we undertake some efforts
in vain", the diplomat underscored. Answering a question if Armenia
should recognize the NKR V. Oskanian said the weapon must be in
Armenia’s arsenal. "However, the weapon should be used in proper
time. I think the time has not come for NKR yet", V. Oskanian stated.

SERZH SARGSYAN MET THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OF LATVIA

armradio.am
02.10.2008 17:46

President Serzh Sargsyan today received the President of the
Constitutional Court of Latvia Gunara Kutris.

Stressing the importance of close cooperation between the
Constitutional Courts of the two countries, President Sargsyan
characterized such contacts as extremely useful, and said that new
ideas and undertakings emerge during the meetings.

Serzh Sargsyan turned to the Armenian-Latvian relations in general,
saiying those are successfully developing in all spheres. He said he
met with the President of Latvia Valdas Zatler in New York a few days
ago and discussed the prospective directions of cooperation.

The President of the Constitutional Court of Latvia also said the
reciprocal visits are the best way of exchange of experience.