Category: News

Realtors Focus on Affordable Housing
By Maria Levitov
The Moscow Times
Tuesday, June 8, 2004. Page 9.
Staff Writer The National Real Estate Congress opened in Moscow on
Monday, taking as its central theme how major real estate players can
help President Vladimir Putin achieve the goal of enabling a third
of Russians purchase their own modern homes by 2010.
Organized by the Russian Guild of Realtors for the seventh consecutive
year, the congress has grown from hosting 160 delegates in 1997
to welcoming over 1,000 delegates from Russia, the United States,
Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia,
Georgia and Azerbaijan for this year’s five-day event.
But despite the international attendance, the keynote speeches of
the opening day focused on the relationship between government and
private sector players in light of new legislation that will come in
front of the State Duma this week.
Aimed at making housing more affordable, the 28-point draft law is
one of the largest one-topic legislation proposals to appear in front
of the Duma in the history of post-communist Russia.
“Currently, only a tenth of the [Russian] population owns modern
housing,” said the president of the Institute of City Economics Fund
Nadezhda Kosareva, who also heads the working group for developing
the draft legislation. “Affordability of housing is the main obstacle
standing in the way of those people who want to improve their housing
situation.”
Kosareva said five major issues hinder affordability and stand in the
way of the 60 percent of the Russian population who want to improve
their housing quality.
The proposed legislation aims to battle these obstacles, which
include the absence of long-term credit, high mortgage interest rates,
insufficient housing supply, high real estate transaction costs and
lack of legal guarantees for consumers and other real estate market
players.
“Price stabilization will follow in 2007 to 2010 if the draft
legislation is ratified,” said Kosareva, who expects development of
the mortgage system to have a positive affect on housing affordability.
The chairman of the mortgage committee of the Association of Russian
Banks, Andrei Krysin, also expressed optimism about the prospects
of consumer mortgages. He said that “because of greater competition
among banks, mortgage interest rates have already decreased from 15
percent in ruble terms to 13 percent in currency terms.”
Even though 75 percent of all consumer mortgage applicants are unable
to prove their income because it is undeclared, the amount of real
estate deals financed with mortgages has grown from 0.7 percent in
2001 to 3 percent last year, according to Russian Guild of Realtor’s
statistics.
Nevertheless, some experts attending the congress expressed concern
that the wider availability of mortgages will increase the demand
for housing, pushing prices even higher, especially in places where
construction will be unable to keep pace with demand.
Despite the 4.7 million square meters of housing that was constructed
in Moscow last year and the 5 million square meters that will be
completed by the end of 2004, the unfulfilled demand for real estate
in Moscow remains acute.
“Some of the last land reserves in Moscow are located in manufacturing
zones, which are owned by the federal government,” said Galina
Hovanskaya, member of the State Duma committee on legislation. “This
complicates access to that land.”
Increasing transparency in the land acquisition process and removing
the monopolies from the market that currently allow developers and
construction companies to make “hyper profits” was also a recurring
theme at the conference.
Vitaly Votolevsky, general director of a large developer, Skanska,
defended the need for greater transparency, but added that “companies
need to be profitable to be stable, which is in the best interest
of consumers.”
At the conclusion of the opening ceremony, delegates broke into
smaller groups to discuss practical aspects of working in the real
estate industry.
“We hope to have a greater focus on practical business issues this
year and share experience,” said Yelena Dranchenko, who has recently
been elected president of the Russian Guild of Realtors.
Drachenko said that this year the introductory part of the congress
was shortened to allow more time for roundtable discussions and visits
to exemplary real estate businesses.

GEORGIAN ARMENIANS CONCERNED OVER IMMINENT LOSS OF THEIR IDENTITY
ArmenPress
June 8 2004
YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS: Some 1,500 residents of an
Armenian-populated village of Poga, in Georgia’s Ninotsminda region,
are collecting signatures under a petition, which they want to send
to the head of the Armenian Church, Catholicos Karekin II, to ask for
his assistance in maintaining, as they say “their national identity”
in the face of the expanding presence of the Orthodox Georgian Church.
The village is home to two semi-destroyed Armenian churches. One of
them acted before the establishment of the Soviet rule, the second
is being now repaired by the Georgian church.
The residents are going to ask Catholicos to help build a new church
for them. The village is one of the biggest Armenian-populated
settlements in the south of Georgia.

A EUROPEAN COURT TO HEAR A1+ CASE
ArmenPress
June 8 2004
YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS: Mesrop Movsesian, the president of A1+
television, forced off the air in 2002, told a news conference today
that the European Human Rights Court has decided to start hearing
of the case, filed by the television against the National Committee
on Radio and Television that granted the frequency used by A1+ to
another company after holding a tender.
A1+ first sent its suit against the Commission to the European
Court in 2002 October, protesting against, as it said “the illegal
decision that took away the 37 decimeter frequency and violating the
company’s rights.” The complete package of documents was sent in 2003
January. Tigran Yesayan, the president of the International Union of
Armenian lawyers, told the same press conference that the European
Court has already notified the Armenian government about its decision
and asked also it to provide its answers to four question as why the
Court should not hear the suit.
Yesayan said it is for the time being difficult to say whether the
government could prove that the rights of the television were not
breached. He said the deadline for the government to present its
arguments is 2004 September 28.
This will be followed by open hearings of the case, and a
representative of the television will also participate in them.
Yesayan assumed that the Court may propose a compromise ruling to
the sides, but added that if it is accepted by both parties, its
details will not be disclosed. “Even if the company wins the case,
it will not be given a frequency, as the television’s complaint des
not contain such a demand, the compensation will be of material and
moral character,’ he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
June 8 2004
SEMINAR ON “HISTORY OF THE AZERBAIJAN CULTURE” HELD
[June 08, 2004, 22:28:03]
A Republican culturology seminar on the topic ” History of the
Azerbaijan culture”, organized by the International Cultural Center of
Civil Society, the Azerbaijan Society of Culturologists and Association
of Culture of Azerbaijan “Simurg” was held in the “Irshad” Hotel.
President of Association of Culture of Azerbaijan “Simurg “,
academician of the International Academy of Scientific Problems of
Intellectual Development Fuad Mammadov, having welcomed the visitors,
has noted, that the seminar is devoted to one of actual problems –
to the history of the Azerbaijan culture.
The doctor of historical sciences, corresponding member of the National
Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan (ANAS) Farida Mammadova spoke on the
topic “The Caucasian Albania: the history and the present”, in detail
told about the role and place of Albanian people in ethno-genesis of
Azerbaijan people, history of occurrence and falling of the Albanian
church, produced proofs of groundlessness of claims of the Armenians.
The report of the doctor of the art, collaborator of the Institute of
Architecture and Art of ANAS Jamil Hasanzade on the topic “The Tebriz
miniatures in world museums” has caused large interest and discussions.
Reproductions and slides which evidently illustrated the report, led
the visitors to the ÕØ-ÕVI centuries – the period of blossoming of
Tebriz school of miniatures and occurrence of the so-called pathetic
miniature which have made the whole stage in the history of the
Azerbaijan art.
Then, was held a “round table” during which the exchange of opinions
has taken place, discussed was the topic “Culture of Azerbaijan
yesterday, today, tomorrow”. Members of the World Association
of the non-governmental organizations, teachers, businessmen,
representatives of creative and trade unions, municipalities, the
religious organizations, mass media took part in the discussion.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
June 8 2004
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONCERN FOR PEOPLE – PRIORITY
DIRECTIONS OF STATE POLICY IN AZERBAIJAN
SPEECH OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV AT CEREMONY OF NAMING
CENTRAL SQUARE AND AVENUE IN THE TOWN OF YEVLAKH AFTER NATION-WIDE
LEADER HEYDAR ALIYEV
[June 08, 2004, 18:21:38]
Dear residents of Yevlakh!
Dear sisters and brothers!
I am cordially greeting you all, and expressing my deep respect and
love to you.
A very remarkable event is taking place today in Yevlakh. These nice
square and avenue are about to be named after nation-wide leader of
our people Heydar Aliyev. On this occasion I extend my sincere
congratulations to all of you.
Nation-wide leader of our people Heydar Aliyev served the Motherland
and nation during all his lifetime. In 1970-80s, the great
constructive work was carried out under his leadership. The country’s
economy was developing leaving behind the rest of the Soviet
Republics. The people in the Soviet Azerbaijan, indeed, felt this:
standard of living increased, new enterprises, hospitals, schools,
scientific and cultural centers were built. It was exactly the period
when powerful economic potential was created in Azerbaijan,
particularly, on oil sector. This potential is serving independent
Azerbaijan even today, and is a great support of the country’s
economy.
After coming back to power in 1993, this time to govern independent
Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev continued to serve his people, and helped
the country out of difficult situation. We all remember well that
after re-gaining independence Azerbaijan appeared to be in the very
difficult situation. On the one hand, Armenian aggression against
Azerbaijan, on the other hand processes taken place within the
country. Chaos and anarchy were ruling the country. At that hard
time, the people appealed again to their nation-wide leader, and
invited him to Baku. After Heydar Aliyev returned to the capital,
stability has been re-established in the country, and favorable
conditions have been created here for further development. Since
then, Azerbaijan has been successfully developed.
Our country has managed to occupy a worthy place in the international
arena. My recent foreign visits have shown again that Azerbaijan has
turned into a very important country in the region. Of course, it, in
the first place, is the result of Heydar Aliyev’s efforts, triumph of
his diplomacy.
Huge investments have been made in our country, and Azerbaijan is a
leading one from this standpoint, as well. Today, a section of the
Baku–Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and large pumping station are being
constructed in Yevlakh. It of course became possible thanks to the
activities of Heydar Aliyev. If the oil strategy were not laid by
Heydar Aliyev in 1994, we would not achieve such successes.
At the same time, social problems are also resolved in Azerbaijan.
Living conditions of refugees and IDPs are improved – new
settlements, schools and hospitals are being constructed for them.
This process will be continued. I stated during my pre-election
campaign that no an encampment would remain in the country. In this
connection, relevant decrees have already been signed, and their
implementation has already started.
In a word, Azerbaijan has been strengthened under the leadership of
Heydar Aliyev for the past decade. Today, our country is looking to
the future with confidence. We have great prospects. The whole world
knows that Azerbaijan will shortly turn into economically powerful
state. To reach this goal, it is first of all necessary to continue
Heydar Aliyev’s policy. Today, taking the opportunity, I want to
express my gratitude to the people of Yevlakh for supporting the
Heydar Aliyev’s policy in the elections. There are no alternatives to
this course. And we will do continue that in all spheres.
Azerbaijan’s positions in the international arena will do
strengthened. My recent visits indicate once again that Azerbaijan is
pursuing very successful policy in this direction. Azerbaijan has
good relations with the world’s most prestigious international
organizations – Council of Europe, European Union and NATO, as well
as with the world’s leading countries.
Azerbaijan’s economy strengthens day by day and intensively develops.
Measures are taken to open new working places. Oil strategy continues
successfully and in early next year the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan MEP will
be put into operation. Social problems are solved. Last year the
pensions and wages have increased. These positive trends will
continue. We shall try to do our best to improve living conditions of
our people.
As you know, we have adopted socio-economic and regional programs
important for future development of Azerbaijan. These programs are
being realized. I am confident that in the coming five years,
realization of them will greatly benefit our Republic. We are
fighting poverty and this will be continued. Opening of new working
places is priority for us and I have several times stated on this.
Today, with a feeling deep pleasure I would like to say that about 30
thousand of working places have been opened after the President
elections. It is also pleased that these working places have been
opened in the regions. This is one of the major factors of our
policy. All regions of Azerbaijan should develop. All the regions and
cities, settlements and villages, all residential areas should
develop. The people should be employed. I am very glad that early
conclusions of this policy have become reality. I am convinced that
these trends will continue and poverty and unemployment will be
abolished.
Today, I am pleased of being in Yevlakh. It was said here that I had
visited Yevlakh before the elections and met the residents of
Yevlakh. I received their support and won at the elections. It is
rather pleased that large-scale works are carried out in Yevlakh. You
know that I have appointed a new head of the executive power in
Yevlakh. In the course of conversation, we have decided that probably
in six months I shall come here to familiarize with the done works. I
am very glad that this was two months. Large works have been done in
Yevlakh during these two months – streets and parks have been paved,
enterprises restored, attention and care for people increased. Should
these factors exist everywhere, Azerbaijan will solve its problems in
a short period. I hope it will be so. If in Yevlakh during two months
such large-scale works have been done, then, I am sure it can be done
on other regions as well. I have a demand for all the executives and
managers in the places – to develop the cities, regions, build and
open new working places, set conditions for entrepreneurs, assist the
farmers, peasants, at the same time attentively treat the people. I
am rather glad that all these are being realized in Yevlakh. I wish
success to the new management, the residents of Yevlakh in this
direction.
The grounds of this policy have been established in 1993. Should this
course of development not be taken in that year, today Azerbaijan
would face more problems. In those years, difficult problems of the
Republic were solved. Restoration of stability, maintenance of order
and rule and at the same time, as an important problem – the process
of strengthening of Azerbaijan statehood was launched. At that time,
the state independence of Azerbaijan was under jeopardy. As a result
of Heydar Aliyev’s gigantic efforts, significant steps were made in
this direction. To say, Azerbaijan, since 1996, has overcome all
these difficulties. Since that time, the country is developing
dynamically.
Today, we are optimist for the coming years. Morrow is bright. The
Country will develop, strengthen, become stronger and our crucial
problem – the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh problem find its
solution. I am confident. Our cause is fair. We support justice, want
to restore territorial integrity of our Country. We try this conflict
to find its solution in the frame of international law and
peacefully. At the same time, we should be ready for all other
happenings. We have no claims on territories of others and will not
give a span of Azerbaijani land to others. We shall liberate our
native lands. We are going to do it in peaceful way. Should it not be
possible, we shall do it by all means.
Heydar Aliyev’s policy should be continued to solve the forthcoming
tasks and problems. Azerbaijan needs this policy today and it will
need it tomorrow. I have stated to adhere to this policy before the
elections and I am devoted to this policy today and will not
backtrack from this. We shall go only forward and to new
accomplishments.
Dear residents of Yevlakh, I once again congratulate you on naming
this Square and Avenue after the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar
Aliyev, wish you new successes, new victories. Thank you.

Eastern promise for outsourcing software
IST Results, Belgium
June 8 2004
With numerous European companies caught in a dilemma of growing
technology demands and shrinking IT budgets, outsourcing software
development to Russia and the Newly Independent States (NIS) is an
increasing attractive option.
ADONIS, an IST programme-funded project, is meeting the challenges of
this dilemma by assisting European organisations and businesses to
outsource software development in collaboration with programmers in
Russia and the NIS of the former Soviet Union, primarily Ukraine and
Armenia. This is a win-win endeavour – European companies can offer
their products and services at competitive prices, while opportunity
is created in the participating NIS. Both benefit from rich research
and development collaboration.
The 10-member consortium collaborated to set up and test a pan-European
network of services for outsourcing software tasks. Project partners
have since formed a Brussels-based company, NewAdonis SPRL. Outsourcing
to NIS and Russia holds “very high potential”, according to project
manager and company Director Dr Ruben Vardapetian.
“The results of 16 pilot projects are still being analysed, but the
three countries, including Belarus, have a huge intellectual capital
largely unexploited by Europe and unused by their own countries,”
he explains.
Global software outsourcing is a lucrative, multibillion-euro
business, with the lion’s share going to India. But Russia is among
the rising stars with an annual turnover of €400 million. NIS and
Russia offer rapidly growing economies and large, highly educated
populations willing to work for lower wages than their European
counterparts. Outsourcing is not an entirely new phenomenon in the
region. Vardapetian notes that Armenia was producing both hardware
and software for the Soviet military since the 1950s.
What is new, however, is the growing recognition of companies in
Europe and across the Atlantic of its benefits. Outsourcing is becoming
synonymous with outsmarting, offering companies the ability to reduce
costs, focus on core business activities, compensate for lack of IT
staff and access specialised expertise at a highly competitive price.
Contact: Dr Ruben Vardapetian NewAdonis SPRL Chaussée de Wavre 352
1040 Brussels Belgium Tel: +32 -2-2306916 Email: [email protected]
;tpl=article&BrowsingType=Features&ID=65347

VLADIMIR PRYAKHIN HOPES VAGHARSHAK HARUTYUNYAN TO BE RELEASED FROM JAIL SOON
A1 Plus | 21:47:00 | 08-06-2004 | Politics |
Robert Grigoryan, the lawyer of General-Lieutenant and former Armenian
Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan met with OSCE Ambassador in
Armenia Vladimir Pryakhin on Tuesday.
The meeting was initiated by Vladimir Pryakhin.
Grigoryan told Pryakhin that his client is charged with attempting
a coup, making seditious calls and insulting the authorities. But
actually no exact wrongdoing is mentioned and presumption of innocence
is violated, he said.
“Instead of proving his fault, they want him to prove his innocence”,
Grigoryan said.
Pryakhin get familiar with the case and expressed hope that Vagharshak
Harutyunyan would be freed soon.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Network of America, Washington Region
P. O. Box 10423
Arlington, VA 22210-9998
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Washington, DC. The Armenian Network invites you to a presentation
on the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) and its implications
for Armenia. A senior representative from the Millennium Challenge
Corporation will explain the various features of MCAs and respond to
questions from the audience. MCAs are unique in that they represent
potential direct transfers of hundreds of millions of dollars and can
be used virtually in all spheres of economic and social development
(schools, hospitals, roads, power plants, private enterprises, among
others). Yet little is known about how funds will be programmed and
projects implemented.
The presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, June 22, 6:30-8:30pm. It
will take place at the World Bank Auditorium J1-050, 701 18th
Street, NW, Washington, DC 20433. The auditorium is located between
Pennsylvania Avenue and G Street, one block from the White House.
Representatives of the business community and NGOs are encouraged
to attend. RSVP to [email protected], while not required,
is appreciated.
The Armenian Network of America, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization dedicated to the advancement of the Armenian American
community.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
June 8, 2004
___________________
TRIBUTE TO DR. THOMAS MATHEWS TO TAKE PLACE AT DIOCESAN CENTER ON JUNE 10
A tribute to Prof. Thomas Mathews, a specialist in Armenian and
Byzantine art, will take place on Thursday evening, June 10, 2004,
at the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) in New
York City.
Cosponsored by the Diocese’s Krikor and Clara Zohrab Resource Center
and the St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, the evening will feature two
keynote speakers — Dr. Helen Evans, curator of medieval art at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Dr. Sylvie Merian, reference librarian
at the Pierpont Morgan Library — who are former students and current
colleagues of Prof. Mathews.
The retiring Prof. Mathews, the John Langeloth Loeb Professor of the
History of Art at New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts, has
done extensive study on Armenian and Byzantine art and architecture.
The evening is an opportunity to recognize the great contribution he
has made to the field of Armenian studies.
Dr. Mathews is the editor and co-author (with Avedis K. Sanjian) of
“Armenian Gospel Iconography: The Tradition of the Glajor Gospel,” the
first monographic study of a single Armenian manuscript. This work
was a collaborative study on an illustrated Armenian gospel book of
the 14th century which is owned by UCLA. Prof. Mathews also co-wrote
a second volume on this gospel, to accompany the exhibition of the
Gladzor (Glajor) Gospel at the J. Paul Getty Museum.
In the 1980s, Prof. Mathews conceived of an exhibit showcasing Armenian
illumination, book-making, and binding using collections in the United
States. The Pierpont Morgan Library in New York enthusiastically
adopted the idea, and more than 60,000 visitors saw it in 1994 at
both the Morgan Library and the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore.
In conjunction with the exhibit, Prof. Mathews co-edited “Treasures in
Heaven: Armenian Illuminated Manuscripts,” an introduction to the art
and history of Armenian manuscript painting, and helped to organize
a symposium which resulted in a second volume of papers titled,
“Treasures in Heaven: Armenian Art, Religion, and Society”.
Some of his articles on Armenian themes are assembled in “Art and
Architecture in Byzantium and Armenia: Liturgical and Exegetical
Approaches” (1995), while others appear in “East of Byzantium: Syria
and Armenia in the Formative Period” (1982), which he co-edited.
He is the author of the provocative work, “The Clash of Gods:
A Reinterpretation of Early Christian Art” (1993; revised 1999),
“Byzantium: From Antiquity to the Renaissance” (1998), “The Byzantine
Churches of Istanbul: A Photographic Survey” (1976), “The Early
Churches of Constantinople: Architecture and Liturgy” (1971), and
“Art and Religion: Faith, Form and Reform” (1986).
He is a member of the Association Internationale des Etudes
Armeniennes, as well as the Medieval Academy of America. Among his
many honors are the J. Clawson Mills Fellowship of the Metropolitan
Museum of Art (1996), a National Endowment for the Humanities grant,
(1994), and a Hagop Kevorkian Fund research grant (1991). Dr. Mathews
received his doctorate degree in art history from NYU in 1970.
COLLEAGUES TO PAY TRIBUTE
A scholar of early Christian, Byzantine, and Armenian art, Dr. Helen
Evans has been involved with the Metropolitan Museum since 1986.
She was co-curator of the major exhibition “The Glory of Byzantium”
in 1997, and curator of the current exhibit, “Byzantium: Faith and
Power (1261-1557)”. Her dissertation at NYU was on “Manuscript
Illumination at the Armenian Patriarchate at Hromkla and the West.”
She served as co-curator of the “Treasures in Heaven: Armenian
Illuminated Manuscripts” exhibition.
Dr. Sylvie Merian has extensively researched, published and lectured
on Armenian codicology, binding, and illumination, as well as on the
history of the book. She contributed extensively to the exhibition
“Treasures in Heaven,” and was a co-author of the accompanying
catalogue.
The program and reception on June 10 will take place at 7:30 p.m. in
the formal reception room (Tahlij) of the Eastern Diocese (630
Second Ave., at 34th St., in New York City). The event is free and
open to the public, but reservations are necessary. Please e-mail
[email protected] or call (212) 686-0710, ext. 26.
— 6/8/04
# # #

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
June 8, 2004
___________________
CHURCH GROUP MEETS WITH U.N. CHIEF TO URGE SIGNIFICANT U.N. ROLE IN IRAQ
Church leaders who met with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan
on Monday, May 24, 2004, said they are convinced that international
involvement in Iraq is the only way to secure a lasting peace and
provide security. The group of 11 leaders from the National Council of
Churches (NCC) urged the United Nations to take that role.
The NCC delegation included Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and
ecumenical officer of the Eastern Diocese, who serves as secretary of
the NCC executive committee. The group met with the U.N. Secretary
General for 40 minutes, discussing how they could contribute to building
lasting peace in Iraq and other countries.
“The United Nations represents all the nations in the world, so the U.N.
should represent the international community,” Bishop Aykazian said.
“The U.N. can play an important role in the peaceful solution to every
problem in the world, including the problem in Nagorno-Karabagh. There
is no other power in the world that can solve the problem except the
U.N.”
The discussion at U.N. headquarters focused on the importance of
building a culture of tolerance, and to teach peace, dignity, and
respect for human rights. The delegation also shared their view that
weapons of mass destruction and terrorism concerns should not limit
efforts to combat other serious problems, such as poverty, disease, and
environmental degradation.
The church leaders pledged to provide educational resources about the
United Nations to their members and to talk with their own governments
about the importance of multilateral collaboration in Iraq.
“Secretary-General Annan was very much interested in the opinion of
religious leaders,” Bishop Aykazian said. “He thinks the churches
should play this role and even a more important role in world affairs.”
The NCC has 36 member churches, representing a reported 45 million
faithful. The delegation included religious leaders from the United
States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
Though many of the delegation originally opposed the war to liberate
Iraq, Dr. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the NCC said that now “people
who were for the war and people who were against the war need to come
together to find an alternative way out of the current situation.”
— 6/8/04
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable on the Eastern
Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan meets with 11
leaders from the National Council of Churches (NCC) on Monday, May 24,
2004.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical
officer of the Eastern Diocese, joins a delegation welcomed to the
United Nations headquarters by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan for a
discussion on the U.N. role in Iraq on Monday, May 24, 2004.
# # #