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04/04/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Armenian Government, Church Mourn Pope 2) Pope's Body Makes Final Journey 3) Marchers Make History as They Begin the Journey for Humanity 4) Belgian Leader Visits Armenia to Evaluate Cooperation with Europe 5) World Chess Federation Rates Armenian Chess Team Third 6) GLENDALE ELECTIONS--A NEW REASON FOR ARMENIANS TO BE DEPRESSED IN APRIL 1) Armenian Government, Church Mourn Pope YEREVAN (cathcil.org, RFE/RL)--Armenia's political and spiritual leaders have joined the worldwide outpouring of sympathy for Pope John Paul II, hailing him as a champion of peace and a friend of the Armenian people. Catholicos Karekin II presided on Sunday over a special service held in memory of the pontiff at the main cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Echmiadzin. "The death of His Holiness is a great loss for the entire Christian world," he said. "He was a tireless preacher of peace and custodian of the Christian values." The head of the Armenian church also paid tribute to the pope's legacy in a message of condolence to the Vatican. "Throughout his 26-year reign, His Holiness Pope John Paul II was a staunch defender of life and champion of justice," he wrote. "His Holiness's calls for peace and reconciliation in the world were anchored in his moral convictions and love for humanity." As moderator of the World Council of Churches central committee, Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I had met His Holiness on different occasions. The Catholicos said he "witnessed the strength of his faith, the depth of his wisdom, and the clarity of his vision." Expressing his profound sadness, His Holiness Aram I said, "His Holiness Pope John Paul II will remain an outstanding figure in the modern history of world Christendom. In fact, his relentless effort to make the Gospel of Christ a living reality in the life of people, his unyielding prophetic witness to make the moral values the guiding principles of human societies, his firm commitment to the cause of Christian unity, his openness to other religions with a clear vision of living together as a reconciled community in the midst of diversities, and his continuous advocacy for justice, human rights and freedom made him an exceptional figure of great achievements." President Robert Kocharian also offered his condolences to the Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano. "The bright memory of His Holiness Pope John Paul II will always remain in our hearts," he said. "We will never forget His Holiness's blessing and great respect and warmth toward our people, which was best manifested during his historic visit to Armenia as well as our last meeting that took place in the Vatican in January." Kocharian was among the last foreign dignitaries received by the ailing pope before the drastic deterioration of his condition. John Paul used the meeting to call for a "real and lasting peace" in Karabagh. He also praised Armenians as people "always linked to their culture and Christian traditions." John Paul was the first head of the Roman Catholic Church to set foot on Armenian soil and describe the 1915 slaughter of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey as genocide--a fact emphasized by Karekin II. The pontiff spoke of a "moment of grace and joy" as he arrived in Yerevan on September 25, 2001 on a three-day visit that coincided with official celebrations of Armenia's adoption of Christianity as a state religion. "For ever, the annals of the universal Church will say that the people of Armenia were the first as a whole people to embrace the grace and truth for the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Chris," he declared. "You zealously guard the memory of your many martyrs: indeed, martyrdom has been the special mark of the Armenian Church and the Armenian people." A visit to the genocide memorial in Yerevan marked the most emotional moment of the papal trip. Appealing to Good by its eternal fire, John Paul said: "Look upon the people of this land who put their trust in you so long ago, who have passed through the great tribulation and never failed in their faithfulness to you. Wipe away every tear from their eyes and grant that their in agony in the twentieth century will yield a harvest of life that endures for ever." The pope had termed the 1915 tragedy a genocide in a joint communiqué with Karekin issued in the Vatican in November 2000. Another joint statement signed by the two spiritual leaders in Yerevan likewise referred to "the extermination of 1.5 million Armenian Christians in what is generally referred to as the first genocide of the 20th century." John Paul's papacy saw a historic rapprochement between the Armenian and Catholic Churches that culminated in their 1996 joint declaration ending an old theological dispute. The dispute had led the Armenian and other denominations of the "oriental family" to split from the Universal Church in 451 AD--long before the 11th century Great Schism that gave birth to Roman Catholicism and Greek Orthodoxy. The Armenian Church has since been fully independent and currently maintains good relations with all Christian denominations. John Paul will also be remembered by Armenians for acknowledging their suffering since the break-up of the Soviet Union. "Dear Armenian friends, hold on to hope," he said at the farewell ceremony at Yerevan airport. "Remember that you have put your trust in Christ and said yes to him for ever." 2) Pope's Body Makes Final Journey VATICAN CITY (Combined Sources)--The doors of St. Peter's Basilica opened to tens of thousands of mourners to view the body of Pope John Paul II on Monday, four days before it was to be entombed in the grotto below the church alongside popes of centuries past. Swiss Guards escorted the procession from a palatial hall in the Vatican, accompanied by many of the cardinals who will choose the Pope's successor. The pontiff's body was moved through St. Peter's Square and into St. Peter's Basilica, where it will lie in state until his funeral on Friday. The basilica will remain open until Friday's funeral. Rome expects up to two million extra visitors coming to pay their respects. Heads of state from around the world are expected to attend. President Bush said Monday that he would lead the US delegation that will attend the funeral, and leave for Rome as early as Wednesday. 3) Marchers Make History as They Begin the Journey for Humanity FRESNO--Hundreds gathered at the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church Hall in Fresno, California on Friday, April 1, for the March For Humanity opening ceremony. Following welcoming remarks by Vicken Yepremian, representative of the ARF "Soghomon Tehlirian" chapter of Fresno, the Reverend Vrouyr Vartabed Demirjian delivered a message from Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian and blessed the marchers. As the marchers were called to the stage, they received a two-minute standing ovation from the audience. Noushig Karpanian read a statement to the marchers by California Assembly Majority Leader Assembly member Dario Frommer. March for Humanity coordinator Vicken Sosikian applauded the courage of the marchers and reaffirmed that the youth is on the forefront of the battle for proper recognition of the Armenian genocide. The March For Humanity, he emphasized, has become the march of the Armenian people organized and led by the youth. After a second round of echoing applause, California State Assembly member Juan Arambula expressed best wishes to the marchers and commended their initiative. Assembly member Arambula recounted the horrors the Armenian people faced during the Genocide and reaffirmed his support for the March For Humanity and justice for the Armenian people worldwide. Armenian Youth Federation Western Region chairman Shant Baboujian delivered a powerful and moving speech praising the marchers' sacrifice and willingness to make a difference in advancing the Armenian case by using themselves as a means. As they embark on their journey, Baboujian asked the marchers to turn to the souls of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian genocide as their source of guidance and strength. ARF Western Region Central Committee member and youth representative Dikran Sassounian saluted the marchers for their sacrifice, willingness, courage, and political maturity. He also spoke about new courses of action the Turkish government is taking to deny the Genocide, as well as the important role the Armenian community and Armenian organizations play in the quest for proper recognition of the Armenian genocide. The following morning, Genocide survivors, community members, and the marchers gathered at the Holy Trinity Church where they received blessing as they began on their 19 day journey. Close to 50 marchers began the journey at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, walking from the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church. By Sunday evening, the marchers had already walked 36 miles and ended their day at the St. Joachim Church, where they slept in a room provided by the church. The opening ceremony and Church services attracted various Fresno-based broadcast and print media. Armenian communities across the world have already shown their support for the March For Humanity. Television reports in Armenia, radio broadcasts in South America, websites in Europe, and Armenian and non-Armenian newspapers and television newscasts have already covered the march and shown their solidarity with the marchers during the first two days. Many organizations and businesses have also been very supportive. Major supporters of the March For Humanity include the Armenian Relief Society-Western Region, ANCA Western Region, Homenetmen Western Region, Adin of California, Sunworks Tanning, GBH, Horizon Armenian Television, Asbarez Daily Armenian Newspaper, and Kerovision, among others. 4) Belgian Leader Visits Armenia to Evaluate Cooperation with Europe YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Belgium's Minister of State and President of the Belgium Chamber of Deputies arrived in Armenia on Monday, on the first-leg of a visit to the region. Belgian leader Herman de Croo and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian reviewed expanding Armenia's cooperation with European organizations, as well as the Mountainous Karabagh conflict and Armenia-Turkey relations. The Belgian leader paid respect to the victims of the Armenian genocide, with a visit to the Dzidzernagapert memorial where he planted a tree in remembrance of the 1.5 million Armenians killed by the government of the Ottoman Turkey in 1915. "The best way to keep the memory of all victims of the past is to have peace in future," de Croo told journalists, as he stressed that the tragic past should not be forgotten. In 1998, the Belgian Senate passed a resolution condemning the Armenian genocide and calling on Turkey to recognize its past. National Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian also held talks with de Croo, focusing on legislative reforms in the country, regional issues, Armenian-Belgian inter-parliamentary relations, and cooperation within international organizations. Baghdasarian said that Belgium's support is key for Armenia within the framework of the European Union's "Wider Europe: New Neighborhood" program. 5) World Chess Federation Rates Armenian Chess Team Third YEREVAN (Armenpress)--According to the World Chess Federation's (FIDE) April 2005 Rating List, five Armenian chess players are among the world's top 100 players. The rankings are effective April 1 to June 30, and include Vladimir Hakobian, Levon Aronian, Smbat Lputian, Rafael Vahanian, and Gabriel Sarkisian. Aronian is ranked in the 21st position, while Armenia's top player Hakobian--a three-time former world champion--is ranked 70th. Armenia's national team has moved from sixth in the world to the third position, after Russia and Ukraine. 6) GLENDALE ELECTIONS--A NEW REASON FOR ARMENIANS TO BE DEPRESSED IN APRIL BY SKEPTIK SINIKIAN Tuesday April 5, 2005 is Election Day in Glendale, which means one of two things. Either Armenian-Americans living in Glendale will be able to voice their opinions loud and clear--and send a message that they are an integral part of the fabric of the Jewel City--OR they will beat each other up to a bloody pulp and miss a golden opportunity to have more Armenians involved in civic affairs. I predict the latter only because I see Armenians unable to differentiate between qualified candidates and other political latecomers. What baffles me is that most Armenian-Americans vote based on familial ties or what their acquaintances say about a person rather than basing their decisions on an individual's qualifications. I have to be honest with you and tell you that I've been itching at the opportunity to let loose on some of these people for even announcing their candidacies, but I hesitate now seeing that most of these Armenians are doing a better job of bashing one another than I could ever do. At this point, if I were to jump in and dish out my critique of this person or that, I would just be kicking a dead horse. Plus, I'm still hearing grumblings from my rant last week. So what does this leave us with? A very important lesson. I don't know what the results of the elections will be on April 5, but whatever happens, our community will have gotten what it deserves. Everyone I speak to has a different opinion. No two people have the same prediction as to who is going to win. What a mess. I hope that whatever happens, this ridiculous election will never be repeated. And I hope that the inevitable loss by some of these clowns will be a message to anyone else who is sitting at home right now contemplating their run for council next time. I have to admit that there are some bright spots amidst all of this confusion. For one, I have come to realize that Armenian television is the worst quality television on earth. I'd rather be watching ESPN Uzbekistan! Watching grown men use sticks to knock around the carcass of a goat is much more fascinating than watching grown men knock around each other like the carcass of a goat only to make themselves AND their guests look stupid. The elections will come and go. Candidates will either get elected or disappear, but unfortunately, TV hosts are here to stay. On the other hand, there have been some pretty creative campaign commercials. One more entertaining than the next. My favorite game to play with my friends is to turn the volume off while watching Armenian TV, wait for the campaign ads to come on and then try to guess whether it's a commercial for a lawyer, candidate, insurance salesman, real estate agent, or some other stereotypical Armenian white collar professional. If you guess wrong, then you have to take a shot of whatever hard alcoholic beverage you happen to have around. It's a lot of fun but I have to warn you to start off slowly. The quality of some of these commercials makes a person want to start channel surfing for infomercials on personal finance. Well, I think I'm through for this week. I won't harass you anymore than I have. But I will urge you to go out and VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! And for the ethically challenged, I didn't just ask you to go out and vote six times! I asked you to vote once and repeated myself for emphasis. (Trust me, with some of these folks you have to make that VERY clear). So, until next time, remember, that if you don't vote, you have no right to complain. Skeptik Sinikian was heavily intoxicated while he wrote this last column. He had watched over 47 continuous hours of Armenian television and gotten all of the campaign commercials wrong. If you wish to give him a piece of your own mind, email him at [email protected] or All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. --Boundary_(ID_OkKKeuM+savM5bM+ub4Smw)--

Highlights of Pope John Paul II’s Papacy
.c The Associated Press
AP Photo SEL112
By The Associated Press
Key events in Pope John Paul II’s papacy:
Oct. 16, 1978: Cardinal Karol Wojtyla of Krakow, Poland, elected pope
by cardinals of Roman Catholic Church, first Pole ever and first
non-Italian in 455 years. Succeeds Pope John Paul I, who died after
34-day papacy.
Oct. 22, 1978: Formally installed as 264th Roman pontiff.
Jan. 25, 1979: First trip abroad, to Dominican Republic, Mexico,
Bahamas.
June 2: Goes to Poland for first time as pope, setting off sparks that
help establish Solidarity, first independent labor movement in Soviet
bloc.
Oct. 1: Begins first pilgrimage to United States, with stops in
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Des Moines, Iowa, Chicago, Washington,
D.C.
May 13, 1981: Shot in abdomen by Turk in St. Peter’s Square.
May 13, 1982: While visiting Fatima, Portugal, to give thanks to
Virgin Mary for having saved his life, narrowly escapes attack by
bayonet-wielding Spanish priest.
Sept. 15, 1982: Receives Palestine Liberation Organization leader
Yasser Arafat at Vatican, provoking criticism from Israel and Jewish
groups.
April 13, 1986: Makes historic visit to Rome’s main synagogue.
Dec. 1, 1989: Meets Mikhail Gorbachev at Vatican, first ever meeting
between a pope and a Kremlin chief. They announce Vatican and Moscow
will establish diplomatic ties.
May 1, 1991: Issues first encyclical on social issues since fall of
communism in Europe, giving qualified approval to capitalism but
warning rich against taking advantage of poor.
November: Hosts meeting of bishops marked by tensions between
Catholics and Orthodox over battle for souls in former communist
Europe.
July 15, 1992: Operation for benign tumor on colon. Leaves hospital
July 28.
Oct. 31: Formally declares church erred in condemning Galileo.
Aug. 13-15, 1993: Visits Denver on fourth trip to United States.
Sept. 4-10: Visits former Soviet Union for first time, traveling to
Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia.
Sept. 21: Meets with Israel’s chief Ashkenazi rabbi, Yisrael Lau, at
Vatican, first official encounter between a pontiff and chief rabbi
from Israel.
Oct. 5: Issues encyclical “Splendor of Truth,” his major statement
on morality, cracking down on dissent.
Nov. 11: Dislocates right shoulder in fall down steps at Vatican
audience. Undergoes operation and leaves hospital after overnight
stay.
Dec. 30: Agreement signed establishing formal ties between Israel and
Vatican.
April 29, 1994: Taken to hospital after breaking leg in
fall. Undergoes hip replacement surgery. Discharged May 27.
Sept. 10-11: Visits Croatia, first trip to former Yugoslavia.
Oct. 19: His book, “Beyond the Threshold of Hope,” published.
March 3, 1995: Issues encyclical “Gospel of Life,” and condemns
spreading “culture of death,” including abortion, euthanasia,
experimentation on human embryos.
May 18: 75th birthday.
Sept. 6: After trying for months to portray Vatican as champion of
women’s rights ahead of U.N. conference on women, says women have
special role in church but still can’t be priests.
Oct. 4-9: On U.S. visit, celebrates Mass in New York’s Central Park,
breaks bread with poor at Baltimore soup kitchen and tells
U.N. General Assembly it should become “moral center” where all
nations feel at home.
Feb. 23, 1996: Vatican issues new rule book for papal conclave,
requiring technicians to sweep Sistine Chapel for bugs and banning
cell phones.
Oct. 8: Undergoes surgery to remove appendix. Released from hospital
Oct. 15.
Nov. 10: Celebrates 50th anniversary as priest, urges struggling
priests to stay true to church.
Nov. 16: Autobiography, “Gift and Mystery,” published, tracing
pope’s journey to priesthood during World War II and reflections as
prelate.
March 10, 1997: Vatican establishes diplomatic relations with Libya,
overriding U.S. objections.
April 12-13: Visits Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, after planned 1994
trip was scrapped because of war.
May 10-11: Visits Beirut, Lebanon, and urges Christians and Muslims to
make peace in war-battered country.
May 31-June 10: During visit to Poland, gathers seven European
presidents and tells them Europe cannot ignore Christian roots or be
exclusive club for rich.
Jan. 21-26, 1998: Visits Cuba for first time.
Feb. 12: Cuba announces it will release dozens of prisoners in first
concrete result of papal visit.
Feb. 21: Elevates 22 prelates to rank of cardinal, including Chicago
Archbishop Francis George and Denver Archbishop J. Francis Stafford.
March 16: Vatican issues “We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah
(Holocaust),” expressing remorse for cowardice of some Christians
during World War II but defending actions of wartime Pope Pius XII.
May 4: Swiss Guard trooper at Vatican kills commander and commander’s
wife, then self.
Oct. 11: Declares Edith Stein a saint, first Jewish-born saint of
modern era.
Oct. 19: Celebrates 20th anniversary as pope, asks for prayers to
fulfill his mission “until the end.”
Jan. 22-28, 1999: Visits Mexico 20 years after first papal trip there,
meets with President Clinton in St. Louis at height of Monica Lewinsky
scandal.
March 1: Vatican confirms pope has waived five-year waiting period and
begun beatification process for Mother Teresa.
Dec. 11: Celebrates completion of $3 million restoration of Sistine
Chapel.
Dec. 24: Ushers in Vatican millennium Jubilee year by opening Holy
Door at St. Peter’s Basilica.
March 20-26, 2000: Makes first trip to Holy Land and expresses sorrow
for suffering of Jews at Christian hands in note left at Jerusalem’s
Western Wall.
Sept. 3: Beatifies much-attacked Pope Pius IX and much-loved Pope John
XXIII in one of most disputed acts of papacy.
May 4, 2001: Becomes first pope to visit Greece since Schism; issues
sweeping apology for “sins of action and omission” by Roman
Catholics against Orthodox Christians.
Sept. 11: Condemns “unspeakable horror” of the day’s terror attacks.
Sept. 22-27: Goes ahead with trip to Kazakhstan and Armenia despite
security concerns following Sept. 11 attacks.
Nov. 22: Sends first Internet message, apologizing for missionary
abuses against indigenous peoples of South Pacific.
Jan. 24, 2002: Convenes religious leaders from around world in Assisi
to pray for peace following Sept. 11 attacks.
April 23: Summons U.S. cardinals to discuss sex abuse scandal, tells
them there no place in priesthood for clerics who abuse young.
Nov. 14: Becomes first pontiff to address Italian legislature.
Feb. 14, 2003: Receives Iraqi deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz on eve
of war.
March 6: “Roman Triptych,” pope’s first book of poetry since
becoming pontiff, published.
May 17: Cardinal, in newspaper interview, confirms pope has
Parkinson’s disease.
June 5-9: Makes 100th foreign trip, visiting Croatia.
July 31: Vatican launches global campaign against gay marriages.
Aug. 15, 2004: Breathes heavily and gasps during open-air Mass at
Lourdes, France.
Feb. 1, 2005: Rushed to Rome hospital with flu and difficulties
breathing.
Feb. 10: Released from hospital.
Feb. 22: Pope’s newest book, “Memory and Identity,” is officially
launched. Describes for first time moments after being shot in 1981,
saying he was “almost on the other side” but thought he’d live.
Feb. 23: Holds longest audience – 30 minutes – since being
hospitalized. It’s broadcast by video instead of being held in person
at apartment window because of rain and winds.
Feb. 24: Readmitted to hospital suffering fever and congestion from a
relapse of the flu.
March 13: Discharged from hospital.
March 25: Unable for the first time to appear in public on a Good
Friday, but shown via video sitting in his chapel.
March 27: Delivered Easter Sunday blessing to tens of thousands in St.
Peter’s Square but was unable to speak and managed only to greet the
saddened crowd with a sign of the cross.
March 30: Appeared briefly in public at his window, looking gaunt and
unable to speak; feeding tube inserted in his nose.
March 31: Health declined sharply, with urinary tract infection, high
fever, septic shock and kidney and heart problems.
April 1: Listed in “very grave condition” but reported to be “fully
conscious and extraordinarily serene.” One of his closest advisers,
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, told the Italian bishops’ news agency:
“He’s aware he’s passing to the Lord.”
April 2: After being described in “very serious” condition with a
high fever, pronounced dead at 9:37 p.m.
04/03/05 04:26 EDT

Pope’s condition remains ‘very grave’
Posted 4/2/2005 7:28 AM
VATICAN CITY (AP) ‘ Pope John Paul II showed the first signs of losing
consciousness at dawn on Saturday, the Vatican said, as priests around
the world prepared the Roman Catholic faithful for his passing.

A postcard of Pope John Paul II is seen at a shop with St. Peter’s
Basilica in the background Saturday in Vatican City. By Luca Bruno,
AP
But John Paul, 84, was not in a coma and opened his eyes when spoken
to, papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said.
The pope’s health began deteriorating Thursday after he suffered a
urinary tract infection. In its latest statement the Vatican, which
earlier described his heart and kidneys as failing, said his condition
was unchanged and “very grave.”
Navarro-Valls said the pope was still speaking late Friday but did not
take part when Mass was celebrated in his presence Saturday morning.
“Since dawn this morning there have been first signs that
consciousness is being affected,” he said.
“Sometimes it seems as if he were resting with his eyes closed, but
when you speak to him, he opens his eyes,” Navarro-Valls said.
He said aides had told the pope that thousands of young people were in
St. Peter’s Square on Friday evening. Navarro-Valls said the pope
appeared to be referring to them when he seemed to say: ‘”I have
looked for you. Now you have come to me. And I thank you.'”
Vatican cardinal Achille Silvestrini visited John Paul Saturday
morning, accompanied by another cardinal, Jean-Louis Tauran.
“I found him relaxed, placid, serene. He was in his bed. He was
breathing without labor. He looked like he lost weight,” Silvestrini
said.
He said the when he and Tauran came into the room, the pope seemed to
recognize them.
List of known and previous papal ailments

A list of the current known ailments afflicting Pope John Paul II:
Breathing problems that forced him to undergo surgery Feb. 24 to
insert a tube in his throat to aid respiration.
High fever from a urinary tract infection that also reportedly caused
his blood pressure to fall.
Feeding tube to provide him with additional nutrition because of
problems swallowing.
Parkinson’s disease, affecting speech, mobility and posture, for at
least a decade.
Knee and hip ailments that make it impossible to stand.
Past ailments
2002: Arthritis of the knee forced several appearances to be canceled.
1996: Inflamed appendix removed.
1994: Breaks leg in a fall, undergoes hip replacement surgery.
1993: Dislocates right shoulder in fall at the Vatican. 1992:
Operation for benign tumor on colon.
1981: Shot in abdomen and hand by Turkish gunman in St. Peter’s
Square, later hospitalized again for infection linked to the wounds.
Source: The Associated Press

“The pope showed with a vibration of his face that he understood,
indicating with a movement of his eyes. He showed he was reacting,” he
added.
For a second day, the Vatican announced a series of papal appointments
including a Spanish bishop, an official of the Armenian Catholic
Church and ambassadors to El Salvador and Panama.
One of the pope’s closest aides, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was quoted
Saturday as saying that when he saw the pontiff on Friday morning,
John Paul was “aware that he is passing to the Lord.”
The pope “gave me the final farewell,” the news agency of the Italian
bishops conference quoted the German cardinal as saying Friday night.
Tourists and pilgrims streamed anew into St. Peter’s Square on
Saturday, and around the world, priests prepared Roman Catholics for
the pope’s death. Many expressed hope that his final hours would be
peaceful.
“Now he prepares to meet the Lord,” Cardinal Francis George said at a
Mass in Chicago on Friday. “As the portals of death open for him, as
they will for each of us … we must accompany him with our own
prayers.”
A workman in the square, declining to give his name, told The
Associated Press that crews were taking down the canopy on the steps
of St. Peter’s Basilica, which had covered an altar during Easter
Sunday Mass. They said they had orders to clear the space for when the
pope’s coffin eventually is carried into the square.
Several cardinals from the United States and Latin America said they
were heading to Rome. After the official mourning period following the
death of a pope, cardinals hold a secret vote in the Sistine Chapel to
choose a successor.
The Il Secolo XIX newspaper of Genoa reported that the pope, with the
help of his private secretary Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, wrote a
note to his aides urging them not to weep for him.
“I am happy, and you should be as well,” the note reportedly
said. “Let us pray together with joy.”
However, Navarro-Valls said he couldn’t confirm the report, even after
speaking to the pope’s secretary.
As word of his deteriorating condition spread across the globe,
special Masses celebrated the pope for transforming the Roman Catholic
Church during his 26-year papacy and for his example in fearlessly
confronting death.
Hospitalized twice last month after breathing crises, and fitted with
a breathing tube and a feeding tube, John Paul has become a picture of
suffering.
His papacy has been marked by its call to value the aged and to
respect the sick, subjects the pope has turned to as he battles
Parkinson’s disease and crippling knee and hip ailments. The pope also
survived a 1981 assassination attempt, when a Turkish gunman shot him
in the abdomen.
In Washington, the White House said President Bush and his wife were
praying for the pope and that the world’s concern was “a testimony to
his greatness.”
Cardinal Marcio Francesco Pompedda, a high-ranking Vatican
administrator, visited the pope Friday morning and said he opened his
eyes and smiled.
“I understood he recognized me. It was a wonderful smile ‘ I’ll
remember it forever. It was a benevolent smile ‘ a father-like smile,”
Pompedda told RAI television. He told the Milan daily Il Giornale the
pope was lying in bed propped up by pillows, and twice tried but
failed to say something.
“There were various tubes, and an intravenous drip, but I confess that
I didn’t dwell on these details,” said Pompedda, adding that the pope
appeared to be “suffering but serene.”
John Paul’s health declined sharply Thursday when he developed a high
fever brought on by the infection. The pope suffered septic shock and
heart problems during treatment for the infection, the Vatican said.
Septic shock involves both bacteria in the blood and a consequent
over-relaxing of the blood vessels. The vessels, which are normally
narrow and taut, get floppy in reaction to the bacteria and can’t
sustain any pressure. That loss of blood pressure is catastrophic,
making the heart work hard to compensate for the collapse.
Dr. Gianni Angelini, a professor of cardiac surgery at Bristol
University in England, said the chances of an elderly person in John
Paul’s condition surviving septic shock more than 48 hours was no more
than 20%, “but that would be in an intensive care unit with very
aggressive treatment.”

PRESS RELEASE
Arapahoe Community College (ACC)
5900 South Santa Fe Dr.
PO Box 9002
Littleton, CO 80160-9002
Contact: Cindy Murphy
Media Relations Specialist
3/30/05
Phone: (303) 797-5709
E-mail: [email protected]
ACC students host genocide commemoration

Phi Theta Kappa honor students at Arapahoe Community College (ACC) will
host “The Greatest Crimes of the 20th Century: Genocide/Holocaust
Commemoration” on Thursday, April 21 at 7 p.m. The public is invited to
attend this free event. Donations will be accepted for the American Red
Cross to assist the survivors of genocide in Sudan, Africa. The program
is co-sponsored by Armenians of Colorado, Inc. and supported by the
Holocaust Awareness Institute at the University of Denver.
The event will commemorate the 90th and 60th anniversaries of the
Armenian and Jewish genocides, respectively, of the 20th century.
Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial,
political or cultural group. The Armenian genocide was organized and
perpetrated by the Turkish government between 1915 and 1923.
Approximately 1.5 million Christian Armenians were murdered. The Jewish
genocide, better-known as the Holocaust, was perpetrated by Nazi Germany
during the period of 1939 – 1945, resulting in the deaths of
approximately 6 million Jews, Poles, gypsies and other minorities.
Keynote speakers for the evening will be first generation American-born
Armenian Ken Alikian, whose parents survived the Armenian Genocide, and
Holocaust survivor Walter Plywaski. Phi Theta Kappa chapter president
Simon Maghakyan will present briefly on the cultural genocide that
destroyed thousands of Armenian churches and historical monuments.
Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity as the state
religion.
Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for two-year
colleges. Sigma Phi, ACC’s chapter, is organizing this genocide
commemoration within Phi Theta Kappa’s Honors Topic for 2004-2006,
“Popular Culture: Shaping and Reflecting Who We Are.” The program is
intended to point out that popular culture is not always positive.
Popular ideas, such as Nazism and Pan-Turkism, that were assimilated
into cultural belief systems resulted in deaths of millions of innocent
people.
“The Greatest Crimes of the 20th Century: Genocide/Holocaust
Commemoration” will be held in the Waring Theater on the second floor of
ACC’s main building at 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive. Parking permits will not
be required to park in ACC lots during this special event. For more
information, or to make advance arrangements for access accommodations,
call 303-797-5955.

OSCE chairman-in-office called Nagorno Karabak as “disputable
territory”

01 April 2005 [16:01] – Today.Az

The OSCE chairman-in-office, the head of Slovenian MFA Dimitrij Rupel
stated in Yerevan, “Nagorno-Karabakh problem is a special case, this
conflict may not be compared with other frozen conflicts”.
D.Rupel stated this, commenting his speech at the UN session of the
Council of Security in New York, 4 March where he called
Nagorno-Karabakh as “disputable territory” (“Mediamax”).
The OSCE chairman-in-office stated, “Information about frequent cases
of violation of ceasefire at front line causes serious concern”. “I
hope, all possible measures are to taken for mitigation of existing
tension”, Dimitrij Rupel said. With that end in view he indicated, the
parties are to abstain from “aggressive rhetoric”. Dimitrij Rupel
stated, he intends discussing situation at the contact line of the
parties during negotiations with Azerbaijan leadership.
“OSCE is unaware of “other methods” for settlement of conflicts,
except peaceful methods”, Dimitrij Rupel said, commenting the
Azerbaijan president Ilham Aliyev’s recent statement, if peaceful
negotiations on settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict fail,
“Azerbaijan is to undertake other measures”.
He indicated, since this point till the end of summer it will be
possible conducting negotiations between Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and
Azerbaijan. D.Rupel underlined just as well, he looks forward to
quickest prevention of violation of ceasefire regime and normalization
of situation at the contact line. With this end in the view the head
of OSCE indicated, undoubtedly he would discuss with Azerbaijan party
the issue of moving the Azerbaijani positions towards the contact
line. “We presume the aggressive language between parties is
non-admissible”, underlined D.Rupel.
He said, main players in the process of settlement of Karabakh
conflict are Armenia and Azerbaijan. However, telling this, he may
imagine the situation, when opinions of other interested people may
also be taken into account. D.Rupel added, he meant people of
Nagorno-Karabakh in this instance.

`AS FAR AS THE ARMENIAN NATION HAS THE WILL TO GO ON WITH ITS CLAIMS,
IT WILL GAIN ITS RIGHTS’
Azg/arm
30 March 05
“Our wish is that the Armenian nation regains its former borders, gets
back its historic lands and creates free, independent and united
Armenia”, Muhammad al Fares, head of the Al Tay tribe, said after the
12 Arab tribe leaders prayed at the Memorial of the Armenian Genocide.
Delegation of the Syrian tribe leaders accompanied by representatives
of the Armenian Revolutionary Party visited Tsitsernakaberd yesterday
to pay tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Each of them
has something to say as they brought with them memories of their
families about the Armenians who escaped massacres and their starving
orphans.
Sheikh al Fares recalled his grandfather telling that their settlement
was dangerous for Armenians and together with his tribesmen he led the
Armenians out to a Yezidi at the mount of Snjar until situation
settled in his region.
“Our Armenian brothers are part of our life. We contribute to
Syria’s social, economical development hand in hand. At first,
Armenians lived in rural areas, working the soil, breeding cattle,
wearing our national dresses and keeping their traditions and
customs. They lived their lives beside us, identified with us, showing
their courage, hospitality, openness, the best features oftheir
character. Moreover, during arguments, discords and even clashes
within our tribes they stepped in displaying the main feature of the
Armenian nation- love for peace. We have noticed no evil intentions in
Armenians”, he said adding that Armenians living in deserts with Arabs
even got used to eating with hands.
Answering daily Azg’s question as to what he thinks about
Turkey’s denialist policy in the Armenian Genocide issue, he said
that the existence of today’s Armenia is the greatest answer to the
Turks and that it’s not essential whether they recognize the Genocide
or not. “As far as the Armenian nation has the will to go on with its
claims, I am sure it will gain its rights”, he said.
Sheikh Nauaf al Bashir from the Bagar tribe told that the Arabs helped
Armenians even when their were threatened not to do so. But the Arabs
fearlessly hid the Armenians in their homes treating them as friends.
“They want to tell those questioning the fact of Armenian Genocide
that their fathers were eyewitnesses of the events, that all they told
was true”, Khachik Majikian from Aleppo said.
The tribe leaders said that the elders of their tribes bequeathed to
have a place for the Armenians in their hearts. There were newborn
orphans among the Armenians of Al Tay tribe who were fed up by Arab
women. Half of around 70 thousand Armenians of Syria returned to
motherland in 1946, others wedded Arabs.
Armen Melkonian, Armenian envoy to Aleppo, was in the Syrian
delegation as well. He noted that the tribe leaders voice their
personal opinion, as Syria has not defined its state policy in regard
to the Armenian Genocide.
By Ruzan Poghosian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pravda.RU:World
Russian head of ex-Soviet military pact warns of radical Islamic threat
12:29 2005-03-29
The Russian head of an ex-Soviet military pact that includes three Central
Asian nations warned Tuesday that the organization’s members must act
urgently to combat the threat of radical Islamic groups.
In the wake of the ousting of Kyrgyz leader Askar Akayev, observers have
said that such groups could step up activity as Krygyzstan’s new leaders try
to restore order, and suggest that religious militants in Central Asia could
find inspiration in the swift and almost effortless overthrow.
Nikolai Bordyuzha, secretary general of the six-nation Collective Security
Treaty – a pact that links Russia with Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan – said in an interview with the Izvestia daily
that coordinated action was essential to stop the threat from spreading
further.
“We should take coordinated steps to counter the attempt of Islamic
extremists in all member states of the organization. I stress that the
efforts should be coordinated because these networks are like mercury that
flows from one country to another,” he said.
The radical group Hizb-ut-Tahrir, which advocates the creation of an Islamic
state in the Central Asian region, is a particular worry, he said.
“Hizb-ut-Tahrir is very active throughout Central Asia, damaging the
consciousness especially of young people, importing religious dogmas in a
bid to form a social base.
“We have to prevent this trend. Otherwise we will face a lot of problems,”
he said, warning of a “struggle based on religion that has no peaceful
resolution.”
Authorities in the Central Asian state of Uzbekistan – which is not a member
of the Moscow-led security pact – blame Hizb-ut-Tahrir for attacks there
last year that killed more than 50 people. The group, which is banned in
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and in Russia, claims to reject violence.
Radical Islamic groups emerged in predominantly Muslim Central Asia after
the 1991 Soviet collapse. Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have both seen bombings
and incursions blamed on extremist groups.
Associated Press
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Statue of Komitas to be placed in Canada
By Tamar Gasparian
Yerkir/arm
25 March 05
Canada is the second country after France where a statue of Komitas
will be placed. The statue is to be placed in a public park of
Quebec. It is not known yet, however, who its author will be.
A contest was announced by the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and
Cultural Union and the Artists’ Union of Armenia, and on March 21, the
works were displayed for public. Thirty-three sculptors submitted
their works — three of them submitted two.
The names of the sculptors and the contest commission, comprised of
locals and Canadian Armenians, were kept in secret. Ten of the works
were selected for further consideration; six of them will be awarded.
The winner will be determined in the third stage, and will get the
$5,000 award. The first runner-up will get $2,000; two second
runner-ups will be awarded $1,000 each.
The Hamazkayin is planning to place the statue in April to mark the
90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 28 2005
SPEECH OF PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN, CHAIRMAN OF YENI
AZERBAIJAN PARTY ILHAM ALIYEV AT III CONGRESS OF THE PARTY
[March 26, 2005, 22:50:52]
Dear Ladies and gentlemen!
Dear Congress participants!
I would like to extend to all of you my cordial greetings and best
wishes for your good health and every success. I am grateful to you
for the kind words about me. The III Congress of the Yeni Azerbaijan
Party is a very important event in socio-political life of our
country. I believe its resolutions will play a key role in further
democratic development of Azerbaijan.
The Yeni Azerbaijan Party was founded under severe conditions in
1992. Initiated by our national leader Heydar Aliyev, the Yeni
Azerbaijan Party was founded as an opposition party. Unlike some
members of the today~Rs opposition, however, the Yeni Azerbaijan Party
has never been in opposition to Azerbaijan~Rs statehood or national
interests. Not only we but also the whole Azerbaijani people used to
be in opposition to the country~Rs leadership of that as their
destructive policy had led to anarchy, chaos and total crisis. They
had brought the country to the brink of a precipice. The processes
taking place in the country at that time questioned the very future
of Azerbaijan; the country was on the verge of separation. It was
wisdom of the Azerbaijani people and national leader Heydar Aliyev~Rs
political experience, knowledge and courage that allowed our country
to get out of that critical situation, saved the country from all
existing threats.
Our country started to advance with confidence, and having
strengthened its political and economic potential for a short period
of time, has turned into a leading state in the region.
If our people~Rs national leader Heydar Aliyev had not come to power
in that hard moment, now it~Rs hard to imagine what kind of troubles
Azerbaijan would face with then.
With our national leader Heydar Aliyev~Rs coming to power in
Azerbaijan, a new era of development has begun in our country. The
first years of this era were also very difficult: stability was not
established in full measure, and consequences of the civil war were
not eliminated in the country. Population~Rs welfare was getting worse
form year to year; the country~Rs economy was in breaking point. And
again, it was efforts by Heydar Aliyev, his far-seeing policy that
allowed the country to eliminate negative factors and take the path
of progress. Irrespective of political system, Heydar Aliyev had
always been a leader of the Azerbaijani people, in the true sense of
the word. His activities while running the country in 1970-1982 were
aimed at meeting the interests of the Azerbaijani people. It was a
result of his services that large amount of funds were brought to
Azerbaijan from the center: new plants and factories were built.
Today, these plants and factories provide considerable support to
Azerbaijan~Rs economic and industrial potential. If the large
industrial infrastructure were not created then in Azerbaijan,
especially in oil sector, the country~Rs economic potential would not
be so huge today. As a result of the work done, Azerbaijan is now
enhancing its political and economic potential. The work done in the
country from 1993 to 2003 has turned Azerbaijan into a truly
independent state. Independence is not just a state~Rs attribute.
There are some countries, which have all state~Rs attributes, and have
joined the international community just formally. Their policy,
however, is far from being really independent. One of our nation~Rs
wealth is that today, Azerbaijan and its leadership is pursuing
completely independent policy. This policy is serving only national
interests of the Azerbaijani people.
The implementation of the Heydar Aliyev~Rs oil strategy has led to
attraction of billions of dollars of foreign investments in
Azerbaijan. I repeat, if the Contract of the Century were not signed
in 1994, the subsequent infrastructure projects were not realized and
the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline were not
started, the today~Rs economic development in Azerbaijan would be out
of question.
The signing of the Contract of the Century triggered the development
of a number if sectors in Azerbaijan. This contract gave a powerful
impetus to overall economic growth in the country.
Today, Azerbaijan~Rs currency reserves make up 2 billion dollars. This
is the wealth we use to protect national interests of the Azerbaijani
people and make our state more powerful.
Huge work has been done towards army building, as well. The today~Rs
Azerbaijani army is capable of solving any task if needed. We are
taking necessary measures to reinforce our army, and will do so in
the future.
Azerbaijan has managed to break the information blockade. Azerbaijan
has joined the international family, and managed to take its worthy
place in the international arena. Today, Azerbaijan holds strong
positions in the region, and is able to impact on the processes
taking place in the region. I think we use effectively these
possibilities, enhancing Azerbaijan~Rs international prestige day by
day. I believe our international activities, foreign policy play an
important role in protection of our national interests.
I have to say that 2003 was a decisive year in the modern history of
Azerbaijan. The health problems our national leader Heydar Aliyev
experienced did not allow him to join the presidential elections.
Supported by the people of Azerbaijan and the Yeni Azerbaijan Party,
I was nominated for the election. And you all are aware of my
pre-election campaign statements. I said then, and I want to repeat
it now, that Azerbaijan must follow the Heydar Aliyev~Rs path, the
only one that can lead us to success.
Heydar Aliyev~Rs policy must be continued. This is a demand of the
present. This is the only policy that will make Azerbaijan stronger,
and serve the improvement of the Azerbaijani people~Rs living
standard. I am very glad that the people of Azerbaijan made a right
choice in 2003 voting for the Heydar Aliyev~Rs policy.
In 2003, the people of Azerbaijan experienced a great loss. We lost
our leader. That was a great shock and tragedy to all of us. At this
hard moment, however, the people of Azerbaijan came together and
demonstrated its will and devotion to the Heydar Aliyev~Rs policy, his
ideology and philosophy.
I also rest on the people~Rs support in my activities. I can feel this
support, and this support gives me strength. People~Rs trust, support
and appreciation are the most important factors for any leader. I
keep the promises I made during my pre-election campaign with respect
to domestic, foreign and economic policy, and all other spheres. Over
the past period, Azerbaijan has made considerable progress in all
fields. Our foreign policy is pursued within the framework of the
deliberate and purposeful conception. This conception has several
directions. One of them is establishment of sincere relations with
neighbors. Some results have been gained in this regard. Azerbaijan
has established very warm relations with his neighbors. Our neighbors
support territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and approach the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh through the prism
of international legal norms only.
Azerbaijan is actively involved in regional cooperation, and there is
a graphic evidence of this: the largest regional Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil pipeline project is being realized at the initiative and active
participation of Azerbaijan. Our policy towards integration into the
European and Euroatlantic structures are successfully continued. To
date, Azerbaijan has joined the European Union~Rs New Neighborhood
Policy, has been working in cooperation with NATO in the framework of
the Individual Partnership Plan of Actions. Azerbaijan~Rs position has
been strengthened in the United Nations, Council of Europe,
Organization of Islamic Conference and other international
organizations. The work done, and the adopted resolutions, in
particular, the political decisions concerning the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh demonstrate that our activities in
this direction were very successful.
All we have done within the country serve safeguarding of the
existing stability. Stability is the basic condition to any country
to ensure its progress. Where there is no stability, progress is out
of question. Where there is no stability, attraction of foreign
investments is impossible. Where there is no stability, distrust
arouses in people. That~Rs why our national leader stated more than
once – and we are devoted to this policy – that successful and
all-round development of Azerbaijan requires maintenance and
strengthening of stability. Those who want to break this stability
will meet with an adequate rebuff. Such attempts would take place
before. Such attempts took place following the presidential elections
in 2003, and they all were suppressed. I hope that was a good lesson
for the forces that had made these attempts. If they resort to that
again, they will get the same. We use words and politics in our
political struggle, not stones and sticks.
It is my regret that opposition does not accept our repeated calls
for a dialogue. Such proposals were advanced more than once both
before and after the elections. But what we could see was that those
in the opposition camp inclined to dialogue were expelled from the
parties. This shows clearly that these forces do not want to
dialogue. In this case, we have to consider other ways. Anyway, I
believe only civilized political relations can ensure normal and
democratic development in our country.
Azerbaijan continues to advance successfully. All the pre-election
promises are kept. We promised to continue economic reforms, and we
are doing so. On one hand structural reforms are being realized, on
the other hand, the adopted programs of socio-economic development of
regions are now being successfully implemented. We promised we would
create 600 thousand jobs, and the number of those already created
exceeded 170 thousand in just a year. We promised to help
entrepreneurs. The amount of funds set aside to assist business has
been doubled in the 2005 state budget. We promised an increase in our
budget. As a result of the, first of all, financial discipline, the
2005 budget has increased by some 25-30%.
Non-oil sector began to develop rapidly. Development of the non-oil
sector is a very important factor for our future activities. I am
very glad that the consolidating class of entrepreneurs in Azerbaijan
uses successfully all these opportunities.
Our links with youth have always been at a high level, I personally
have always communicated with youth, and now keep in touch. It gives
me pleasure that overwhelming majority of those joined our party
after the II Congress is youth. This is natural, because young people
are very well aware of the processes taking place within the country,
and around the world. They see that the today~Rs leadership of
Azerbaijan is pursuing its policy adequately to the processes taking
place in the world as this meets our national interests. Our national
interest is creation of democratic and civilized state in Azerbaijan.
We are a country rich in natural resources. We have huge potential,
human resources. But we also know that only a democratic society
enable every citizen to freely express his wish and realize its
potential. It is only democratic development that can lead the
country to progress. This is why all our steps are taken in this
direction. Both enhancing of our economic potential, very serious
measures in army building, maintenance and strengthening of political
stability in Azerbaijan and further democratization of our country
are priority directions of our policy.
Our country has great prospects. I don~Rt think Azerbaijan will face
serious problems in the future. All the problems will be solved
including social ones. We have doubled the minimum wage, and will
raise it in future. We will raise pensions. Population~Rs incomes rise
from year to year. The reforms implemented in the country create new
opportunities. The work to be carried out in agriculture will allow
to develop this sector; up-to-date equipment will be acquired.
Commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline will bring huge
funds to the country creating favorable conditions for development of
all sectors of the economy. This will increase social protection
possibilities, and improve living standard of our refugees and
internally displace persons, the most needy members of our society.
As you know, creation of a new infrastructure, construction of
settlements, schools and hospitals are in progress. In other word,
neither in the near nor in the distant future I can see the problems
Azerbaijan could have come across, as, I repeat, our present and
expected activities, the governmental programs will allow us to cope
with the tasks set.
The only and the most difficult problem is the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. We are striving for its settlement.
But, of course, this question does not depend on the wish of one
side. In this regard, we are doing everything in our power too. On
one hand, this is our purposeful foreign policy, one might say, a
quite serious offensive, international organizations~R more careful
approach to the issue, diplomatic efforts, on the other hand, army
building – it is no secret that the 2005 budget~Rs army expenditures
have increased by more than 30%, and will be increased more in
future, as well as Azerbaijan~Rs prestige in the region, realization
of the regional projects, construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline, i.e. these factors give us considerable advantage. The
tendencies that can be observed now in the negotiation process are in
our favor. This is the reality. Just destructive position of Armenia
is what hampers the problem~Rs solution.
The international law norms are on our side. Economic potential is on
our side. Military potential is on our side. Justice is in on our
side. The people of Azerbaijan will never put up with the lost of
their lands. The people will liberate their native lands at all
costs. We want to solve the problem in peaceful way. We don~Rt want
war, we have great plans and good prospects. We want to be engaged in
constructive work and make further progress in our country. Everybody
realizes, however, that the uncertain situation cannot be endless.
The current talks are held within the framework of the Prague
process. On the whole, the Prague process has led to a new situation,
that means, as a matter of fact, a step-by-step resolution. So, we
hope a mutually acceptable solution meeting all the international law
norms will be found as a result of the Prague process. However, if
the negotiations are unsuccessful again, then further talks will be
senseless at all, because, as you know, they lasted over ten years.
All possible ways have already been discussed. In this case,
Azerbaijan will have to make serious changes in its strategic course,
and political approach to this problem.
Dear friends!
The year 2005 will be extremely important for our country. In all,
2005 began well: all our plans concerning economic development are
being realized. In 2005, Azerbaijan advances new international
initiatives. The country strengthens its bilateral relations with
various countries, enhances its regional cooperation. In 2005, the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline will be put into operation thus
completely changing the situation. On one hand, this will have a
strong impact on the regional processes; on the other hand, oil from
other countries will be delivered through this pipeline to the world
markets. Commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline will
enhance the role of Azerbaijan in the region, and allow us, in just
three years, to double, quadruple and even quintuple our export
potential. This of course will bring huge revenues to our country
that will serve improvement of the living standards of the
Azerbaijani people. The funds accumulated to date in the State Oil
Fund are managed transparently. The people are kept informed about
it, all data are made publicly available, and all the expenditures
are carried out through the centralized budget. All these issues are
debated in the parliament. I mean the people of Azerbaijan through
their representatives in the parliament are directly involved in
distribution of the Oil Fund~Rs revenues. This is very important as we
are talking about our common property. This is the property of the
Azerbaijani people that every citizen should take an advantage of. At
the same time, every citizen must have knowledge of what the
collected funds are spent on.
Parliamentary elections are expected in 2005. We attach a great
significance to these elections. We believe these elections will play
a key role in the further democratic development of Azerbaijan. I
make no doubt that the elections will be absolutely fair and
transparent, and that they will become a reflection of the
Azerbaijani people~Rs will and wishes.
The Yeni Azerbaijan Party also should prepare for the elections, and
we shall do it. Although we cannot see a rival in the today~Rs
political arena, we should confess that the opposition – maybe we
shouldn~Rt have talk about it now – is in a very sorry plight. The
barbarian actions they perpetrated after the presidential elections
have destroyed the ruins of their no longer existing foundations.
Today, the presence of the opposition in the Azerbaijan~Rs political
scene is not felt at all. They only tours abroad at the invitation of
certain international organizations, meet here with minor officials,
and come back to Azerbaijan inspired with promising plans and ideas.
But after a while, we all make sure it counts for nothing. In other
word, the Yeni Azerbaijan Party has no a rival. I am sorry about it.
I consider such a situation in our society as abnormal. We, the Yeni
Azerbaijan Party, are able to impact upon socio-political processes
taking place in the country. The people of Azerbaijan support our
policy. Our policy is a practical work, practical steps, and real
issues. We are far from populism, do not give interviews ten times
per day, but we are busy.
I stated before the elections that if elected I would worthily serve
my people. I am trying to do so, and will do my best for the people
of Azerbaijan to live better and better every day, for our country to
consolidate, enrich and turn into a powerful state.
Dear friends!
I am sure that staying devoted to the Heydar Aliyev~Rs political
course, we will worthily and attachedly serve our Homeland and
people.
Long live the Yeni Azerbaijan Party!
Long live the modern, independence Republic of Azerbaijan – the
creation of Heydar Aliyev!
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Revisiting Dr. Death on Good Friday
Rush Limbaugh , CA
March 25 2005
BEGIN TRANSCRIPT
You know what I want to do, folks? We’re going to go back to 1996,
Rush Limbaugh the Television Show. Jack Kevorkian. I think it would
be interesting because I want to review three things that Kevorkian
said in a National Press Club speech that was carried and heralded at
the time by many, and I want to play for you my reaction to what
Kevorkian says. The reason I want to do this is because it was 1996,
which is nine years ago, and for those of you that are relatively new
to the program and have only heard the subject of human life
discussed on this program by me this week, I’m going to take the
occasion to go back, play what Kevorkian said on our TV show in 1996
(Video Clip) and then what I said following Kevorkian, so as to
establish for those of you new to the program that the things that
you’re hearing from me are things I have said consistently over the
years. The warnings that I issued nine years ago are now becoming
reality. I just want you to hear Kevorkian and what he has to say
about “death with dignity” and just to prove to you that there’s a
culture of life in this country, that it’s been building and that
this is not an isolated case. The reason people are choosing sides on
this is because of this battle over the meaning of life in this
country. It is clear.
John Podhoretz has a great piece today in the New York Post. His
op-ed piece. If I may paraphrase. Podhoretz says that there are two
groups in this battle over life. One group holds the belief that life
is created, it’s sacred, we all only have one. It’s nobody’s business
to start tampering with this life, and this life is beyond our
definition because of the inclusion of the soul. And the soul is our
connection to the divine, our creator. The other side doesn’t believe
in any of that. They’re irreligious or secularists and they think
that we’re just a miracle of nature, a bunch of things happened when
the sperm and the egg meet and bammo! You get a human machine. But
when the machine goes south, it’s time to get rid of the machine
because the machine, if it can’t perform optimally and save itself
and do things for itself, it’s not worth living. There’s no
connection to the spiritual on the part of these people, and those
people are deathly afraid of those who do believe in the soul and the
divine connection to life and so the battle thus ensues. We’ll link
to the piece on the website. You could read it yourself. It’s the
NewYorkPost.com in their opinion section, but I think for the sake of
the simplification of this discussion all week long it’s a great
piece and will help people understand the dividing line here. I think
it’s pretty right on the money what Podhoretz says about how those
who are secularists view human life. You know, we’re just the most
supreme form of a natural accident, the meeting up of genes and cells
and sperm and egg and voila! We’re the most advanced machine on the
planet but we’re nothing special, we’re just the most advanced. And
when our machines go wrong, aspects of our machines go wrong, then
it’s time to just pull the plug if it’s necessary to keep that
machine running and going with no knowledge, no recognition, no
acknowledgment whatsoever that there may be a divine connection to
human life, or with human life, and the creator. It’s really well
done. Let me take a quick time-out here. We’ll come back and go back
to the TV show from 1996. Jack Kevorkian. We have three bites of
Kevorkian. I’ll play for you my summation as it aired on the TV show
back in 1996.
BREAK TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: Before we move on to this Kevorkian stuff from my TV show from
nine years ago, I want you to hear where the case is now, according
to Bob Schindler, Terri Schiavo’s father. He spoke to the press not
long ago this morning, and this is his view of where the case is at
this moment.
SCHINDLER: The information that was presented last night in front of
the judge, the federal judge in Tampa, was very, very strong, and
we’re encouraging these judges, when they review that it’s under
appeal, to make the right decision. And we’ve had some of the best
legal minds in the country working on this, and, you know, we’re
always — seems that we’re losing in court, and it’s not because we
have poor attorneys. They’re offering sound legal motions, but we
haven’t been very successful. But I do think that what was presented
last night in the federal court is very, very viable and we’re, you
know, encouraging the appellate court to take a hard look at this
thing and to do the right thing.
RUSH: Unidentified reporter then asked, “Well, what’s your best hope
now, Mr. Schindler.”
SCHINDLER: Our best hope right now is the appellate court. What’s in
front of them is very, very — I can’t say how strong it is, and it’s
important. The legal opinions that we’re getting are telling us that
this thing should — the judge’s decision last night should be
reversed. That’s the information we’re getting, and we’re now
hanging, waiting for that.
RUSH: As time continues to dwindle away. I went ahead during the
break and printed out the Podhoretz column. Let me just read to you
the relevant sections I was talking about mere moments ago. He tries
to line up the two sides here, and point out what the fight is really
all about. He says, “Those who want her to live tend to view life as
a gift ~W a treasure beyond value that has been bestowed upon us and
that we therefore have no right to squander. The giver of the gift
cannot be seen by the human eye, and the essence of the gift cannot
be seen either. We usually call that essence the ‘soul.’ Our souls
define us: They make us who we are in the deepest sense. And they
transcend us as well: They are our connection to the divine, to all
in the universe that is unseen and unknowable but is still there.
Most religious people share this set of beliefs, which is why those
who have pushed hardest to save Schiavo are devout Christians. Many
of those who want her to die, by contrast, view life as a natural
phenomenon ~W a collision of egg and sperm that gives rise 280 days
later to a baby. That baby is the product of human interaction,
deriving genetic information equally from mother and father and
recombining it into a new human form. It’s a wonder, but it’s not a
miracle. It’s explicable within the laws of nature, and so there
isn’t anything necessarily transcendent about it. In some sense,
then, the human body has a mechanical quality to it. We are created
by a rational process. We all look kind of similar (arms, legs, eyes,
nose, mouth, shoulders all in the same place), and we all have an
inborn capacity to communicate, to learn and to develop complex
relationships with other people. We’re created and grow in the same
way. Our core desires are the same ~W food, shelter, sleep, love. In
this way of thinking, we are the world’s most marvelous, most
spectacular machines. This is the view of life shared by most secular
people, who are uncomfortable with the idea of a divine spark within
all of us and prefer to think that science is the best explanation
for everything.” That’s John Podhoretz in the New York Post today
attempting to shape the two sides and what the fight is really all
about. All right. Let’s go back to the TV show. Rush Limbaugh, the TV
show in 1996, National Press Club, Jack Kevorkian discussed the
dignity in which people die with his assistance versus the dignity in
which some other people die.
KEVORKIAN: Well, let’s take what people think is a dignified death.
Christ. Was that a dignified death? Do you think it’s dignified to
hang from wood with nails through your hands and feet, bleeding for
three or four days and slowly dying? With people jabbing spears into
your side and people jeering you? Do you think that’s dignified? Not
by a long shot. Had Christ died in my van (laughter) with people
around him who loved him, the way it was, it would be far more
dignified. My rusty van.
RUSH: This is Dr. Death, Dr. Kevorkian, making the case for his
euthanasia movement which was to take people who weren’t even
terminally ill and talk them into dying and take them into his van
and he would inject them. I forgot his method. But I don’t know that
everybody’s ever really talked about crucifixion as dignified. That
is mystifying for me. But let’s move on here. Here is Dr. Death,
another portion of that audio, the National Press Club, 1996.
KEVORKIAN: God sets things in motion and then hands off. Let humans
run it. And that’s why he set this country up the way it was.
Hands-off? The Pope has got his hands on our neck. He’s wringing it.
Now, I’m not anti-Pope. Basically he can do whatever he wants and say
whatever he wants. But I think he’s got a grip on our government. I
know he has a grip on the Michigan Supreme Court. Grip? He owns it. I
know he’s got a grip on our Supreme Court. Therefore, I don’t care
what any Supreme Court says. I don’t care what any legislature does.
Pass any law you want. I don’t care.
RUSH: Here’s your modern icon. This is the modern icon of the
Culture of Death movement. Here he is, Dr. Death, Jack Kevorkian.
Let’s listen to one more from this speech. It happened July 29th,
1996 at the National Press Club, and the audience is members of the
media. They’re the ones who are laughing.
KEVORKIAN: We’re trained to lie as we get older. That’s the way you
survive. That’s the grief that society is lying. To yourselves and to
others. And the epitome of lying is in the epitome of society, the
government. I don’t think what I’ve said is wrong so far. If there’s
any disagreement I’ll hear about it later. These questions I’m
asking, “Does that baboon heart become sacred?” You can’t answer it.
Why not? You know what sanctity is, don’t you? Can the body be partly
sacred? Is the fecal material in your intestines sacred? You’re a
human body. You’re a biological organism like every other biological
organism. You bleed when you cut and when you die you stink. Now,
what’s sacred about that?
RUSH: So you forgot about this? (asking staff) You forgot? A lot of
people have forgotten because this is so unpleasant to remember. Who
wants to run around remembering this kind of stuff? This is the
modern hero of the Culture of Death movement, Dr. Jack Kevorkian —
and he epitomizes here what Podhoretz has said. We’re just biological
machines, miracles, we’re all the same. We stink when we die.
Dignified? What, what, what, what, what? So I play this. I just want
to you find out the mind-set of people, and this guy’s clearly
unafraid to tell us what he thinks, which is a service. But it’s
clearly an illustration of some of the thinking that goes on about
life and death among some of us, particularly our secularists, in
this culture. Now, this is what I said at the end of the TV show that
day, and for those of you that have just been listening this week or
in the past month or even year and you’ve not heard the subject of
life come up intensely as it has this week, just to show you that
we’re consistent here, we have core principles and values, and they
are what guide this program. This is how I closed out the Kevorkian
segment on my TV show back in July of 1996.
RUSH IN ’96: I think Kevorkian’s dangerous and I think that what he’s
doing is not a service to society for this reason: He talked about
sanctity and I believe that too many Americans are losing sight of
the sanctity of life, losing respect for it. And I’ve been alarmed
about it for a long time. I know it’s going to make some of you
uncomfortable, but a million and a half abortions a year for all
these years, now we’re deciding — and that’s basically a convenience
to the living decision. We’re deciding who lives and dies based on
the convenience of those who are alive. And now we’re deciding who,
at the elderly end of the spectrum, should live or die and we tell
ourselves that we’re doing it out of compassion and understanding,
that they must die dignified deaths but basically what it boils down
to is, we’re making decisions for people based on what we think is
good for them and — or not good for them. So killing or euthanasia
or assisted suicide, whatever you want to call it, is becoming very
easy. And I don’t think you can separate what’s happening without
regard for life, or lack of it, in this country, from the crime rate,
from the illegitimacy rate and from a number of the things going on
in our society that make you ask, “Where is America’s soul?” Until
this kind of thing is taken seriously, that’s why I’m concerned with
the long-term view. I’m not anti-abortion because I want to tell
other people how I think they ought to live. I’m concerned where the
country is going to be 15, 20, 25, 30 years from now. I inherited
fortunately, because the people who came before me had a great sense
of values and purpose, I inherited a pretty great country. I hope the
people who come after me do too, but you worry about that when you
see the things that are happening all around us today and the loss of
respect for life is central to our deterioration.
RUSH: That was nine years ago, July 30th, 1996. Dr. Kevorkian was
back on TV today. He was on Good Morning America from his jail cell.
Charlie Gibson said (cut nine here Mike), “When you see Congress
begin to get involved, when you see this go through layer after layer
in the courts, does it become something in your mind of a circus?”
KEVORKIAN: Yes, of course. What bothers me is the bit of hypocrisy in
this. When the Congress and the president get involved because all
life is sacred and must be preserved at all costs, they don’t say the
same thing about men in the death row cell. Their life is just as
sacred.
RUSH: See, there’s no difference between somebody who has been
convicted of a crime, convicted of murder, and Terri Schiavo, in
Kevorkian’s mind. Now, I also might point out, is it not interesting
who Good Morning America decided to call as the source authority on
how we’re dealing with Terri Schiavo? Dr. Death, Jack Kevorkian, and
seeking — honestly seeking — his opinion about what the Congress
and the president are doing in this regard. I just remain buffaloed.
BREAK TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: All right. Now, let me throw some gasoline on a fire here,
ladies and gentlemen, because all of us who want that feeding tube
reinserted have been trying to get a handle, have been trying to
understand the other side in this, and there is a divide. It’s hard
to understand why there is so much enthusiasm for this woman to die
— and I don’t care what anybody wants to tell me, there is. I’ve had
it call this program. I’ve heard it expressed on this program. I’ve
seen it on television. There is an active enthusiasm for this case to
die. There is happiness and applause when these court rulings come
down. Now, you can sit there and deny it. You can call here and tell
me, “No, that’s not what you think all day long, but you’re not going
to convince me that there’s not a culture out there that has
something to gain from this woman’s death and that’s the point.” We
call ourselves a civilized society and we’re letting this woman’s
death drag on and on and on, and it is public. We are starving one of
our own citizens. The government is starving one of our own citizens.
“No. No, Rush, these are court rulings.” Three branches of
government, dummkopfs. We’ve got the legislative, the executive and
the judicial. The judicial is a branch of government and the
judiciary has decided the woman is going to starve, for one reason or
another. There was a great piece, I saw it in National Review Online.
“If she could make a phone call, if she’d dial 911 and say somebody,
‘Help me, I’m being starved to death.'” The cops would show up and
they would take action. If she could do it, she would, but she can’t,
obviously.
Well, what’s happening here? You know, there is an advantage to some
people for having this play out day after day after day. There is an
advantage for all this emotion being ginned up, and what do you think
that advantage is? This is, in effect, what we have going on this
week is a week-long or however long it goes ad for people to make a
case for mercy killing. How many people do you think, after this
agonizing week, would probably say, “Yeah, you know what? We need
mercy killing now instead of this agonizing starvation and so forth.”
What do you think the reaction among some people is going to be? It’s
not going to be, “Let’s not kill people this way; let them live.” No,
the reaction is going to be, “Let’s not kill people this way; let’s
not make them suffer.” Even after we’ve been told all week, “She’s
not suffering; she’s not going through pain; it’s euphoria,” still
what we’ve got here is a week-long advertisement for those who want
to make a case for mercy killing — and how much of this country do
you think is going to be ripe for that after this week of raw emotion
that has been playing out 24/7 in the US media, versus how many
people in the country do you think will have a reaction that says,
“Yeah, this slow agonizing death of starvation, we should reinsert
the tube.” That will be the two arguments here, and there’s going to
be an even growing, I predict to you, an even larger segment of
society — I don’t know how big in terms of total percentage — but a
larger segment of society which will now decide, “It’s just too
agonizing to see and hear about this. Let’s do mercy killing.” Let’s
see. I’ve got more of Jack Kevorkian. I just want to finish him up
via Good Morning America today. In fact, let’s play nine and ten all
over again today. Kevorkian, Dr. Death, reached out to by ABC as a
source authority on what the Congress and the president have done in
this case. Charlie Gibson, talking to Dr. Death in his jail cell,
Charlie says, “When you see Congress begin to get involved, when you
see this go through layer after layer in the courts, does it become
something in your mind of a circus, Dr. [Death]?”
KEVORKIAN: Yes, of course. What bothers me is the bit of hypocrisy in
this. When the Congress and president get involved because all life
is sacred and must be preserved at all costs, they don’t say the same
thing about men in the death row cell. Their life is just as sacred.
RUSH: And then Gibson says, “Well, do you believe some good can come
from the current debate?” Listen to this.
KEVORKIAN: It has raised the consciousness level concerning this
issue, and many more people now are going to be willing to face it
squarely and discuss it among their families and in society in
general.
RUSH: If you know what Dr. Death is in favor of, “mercy” killing,
then he’s just made my point here about the consciousness-raising
toward mercy killing that this raw week of emotion is providing for
certain people. So just keep a sharp eye. In the midst of all this,
don’t forget CNN feels sorry for the polar bears because of global
warming up at the North Pole; the bears aren’t dying. The bears are
just forced to find food in different places, and they say that
they’re 15% skinnier, 20% skinnier over the last 20 years — and, of
course, this is just intolerable. It’s just so sad. They’re losing
weight, folks. They’re wasting away to nothing. Oh, how can this be?
We’ve got to do something for the polar bears. It is mind-boggling. I
predict this stuff earlier in the week as a joke and every time I
make a joke about the left, it just comes through. One other thing,
folks, about this Kevorkian business, just to close the loop. Back in
1996, and ’95, when this Kevorkian stuff was at the top of the page
and it was the lead story day in and day out, I took grief from my
audience like you can’t imagine. I didn’t understand suffering. I was
thinking too much rather than feeling. My emotion, my emotion was
lacking here. I was not relating and understanding the pain and the
suffering these people were going through, and I was the one who was
the mean, dirty SOB, cruel, rotten bastard, because I had the guts to
speak out against Jack Kevorkian — and the same kind of heat I’m
taking this week from some of the audience, same type of heat took
back in 1996. Now, the lesson is, I’ll take the heat. I don’t care.
Because I think people tell us who they are. I think we learn a lot
about people when they get mad and when people call to criticize me,
I understand that they are telling me more about who they are than
anything they know about me because not only are they wrong, as they
assess me, but they don’t know me in that sense.
END TRANSCRIPT