PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS CONDUCTS HOLY MASS IN TORONTO,
VISITS THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF CAMBRIDGE

His Holiness Aram I conducted a Holy Mass in the St. Asdvadzadzine Church in
Toronto on October 2. Prelate of Canada, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian and
Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of United States, Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan, conducted the Holy Mass with His Holiness.

The church was full with believers who had come to attend the mass. Special
screens were placed outside the church so people could follow the mass.

His Holiness delivered a sermon during which he elaborated on Jesus Christ’s
‘ message “your faith shall rescue you.” He called upon Armenians to
strengthen their Christian faith.

“During the bloody stages of our history, Christ became our savior. We
enriched our lives with Christ’s faith. That faith will rescue us, cure our
diseases, show the right path to those who are lost; it will grant our
nation spiritual, intellectual and physical well-being. A faithful nation is
not afraid of life’s evils. This has been our nation’s source of everlasting
resurrection,” said His Holiness.

After the Holy Mass His Holiness visited Cambridge, where he was welcomed by
Rev Gomidas Panossian of the St. Neshan Church, representatives of the
National Assembly, members of the board of trustees and a crowd of faithful.

After the blessing of salt and bread, His Holiness placed a wrath on the
Martyr’s Monument.

Prelate Khajag Hagopian welcomed His Holiness in Cambridge, pointing out
that despite the region’s distance, the Pontiff had insisted on including
Cambridge in his Pontifical visit to Canada. His Holiness highly praised the
organized work carried out by the small community.

The Armenian community of Cambridge organized an official dinner party in
honor of His Holiness the same night. 300 people attended the event.

Mr. Boghos Fernezlian, chairman of the church’s board of trustees, welcomed
His Holiness and expressed gratitude to him. Rev Gomidas spoke about the
example of service that can be seen in the 10th anniversary of His Holiness’
enthronement.

He also spoke about the mission of the Antelias Seminary, announcing that
the small Armenian community in Cambridge will contribute with an amount of
12,000 dollars in the donation made by the Prelacy of Canada to the
Seminary.

Greg Bezbezian presented His Holiness with a rare copy of the currency used
by King Hetoum and Queen Zabel.

His Holiness Aram I stressed that even far away communities have an
important role to play in the Armenian nation’s and church’s collective
lives.

“You are not on the margins of our life; you are on its main page. A
community is not measured by its size, but by its activeness. And you are
that active community which built this center years ago, constructed this
church, brought up a community and today lives its Armenian identity through
its national and ecclesiastical values,” said His Holiness.

Praising the respect and faith shown in the Antelias Seminary, His Holiness
reminded that success in life is not only dependant on material riches, but
on sacrifice and dedication.

Mrs. Garine Yakoubian performed songs from Gomidas on the violin. The
evening was concluded with “Cilicia” and “I Veh Partsants.” The attendants
kissed His Holiness’ right hand and received his blessings.

##
View pictures here:

*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses of
the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE REACTS ON EU DECISION TO START NEGOTIATIONS WITH TURKEY

A1+
| 21:38:41 | 03-10-2005 | Politics |

Strasbourg, 03.10.2005 – “Turkey is a part of Europe”, said Terry
Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, reacting to the
news of a last-minute compromise between the EU 25 members on the
opening of membership negotiations with Turkey.

“Details of the proposal are not yet known, but while we are waiting
for Turkey’s response, I wish to stress again the importance of the
outcome of these negotiations, not only for Turkey and the EU but
for Europe as a whole and indeed world.

The issue has never been whether Turkey is a part of Europe – the
Council of Europe answered this question 65 years ago when Turkey
joined our organization. The question has been whether the EU would
rise to the occasion and understand the importance of the fact that
a country with a big and predominantly Islamic population is ready
and willing to embrace the values of democracy, human rights and the
rules of law.

If the negotiations with the EU indeed start – and I wholeheartedly
hope so – this will only be the beginning of a long process. Turkey
deserves a fair deal and the pace of the negotiations must be set
by its achievements in implementing reforms, not by polls elsewhere
in Europe. Public opinion is very important, but it is not immune
to prejudice. With so much at stake, political leaders should lead,
and not just follow”, he concluded

TAVUSH-2005 IN TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF ARMENIA
By S. Melkonian

AZG Armenian Daily #177
04/10/2005

Culture

The Union of Theatre Workers of Armenia is holding Tavush-2005 Theatre
Festival with the participation of the actors from Yerevan’s theatres.

On October 1, Gabriel Sundukian Academic Theatre staged Muratsan’s
“Ruzan” in Ijevan. That very day the singers of Yerevan Opera and
Ballet Theatre performed in Dilijan. Hovhannes Tumanian Puppet Theatre
presented “The Three Piglets” in Touz.

The meeting in Khashtarak village of Ijevan was extremely interesting.

Haykaz Yeranosian introduced the life of honored artist of Armenia,
Armen Gulakian. Gulakian’s students, actor Vladimir Abajian and
reciter Svetlana Khanumian, presented a wonderful bouquet from the
Armenian poetry.

This action by the Theatre Workers’ Union was received with special
warmth in this village neighboring with Azerbaijan, as the last 10-15
years were a period of cultural stagnation for the village.

MAMEDYAROV: I HAVE NO INFORMATION CONCERNING THE CHAIRS’ MEETING IN VIENNA

De Facto, Armenia
Oct 4 2005

Azeri FM Elmar Mamedyarov has no information concerning the issues
OSCE Minsk group Co – Chairs discussed in the course of the meeting
in Vienna.

During the talks with journalists the Minister stated the Ambassador
of Azerbaijan to Vienna had been delegated to gather the information
on the meeting in the OSCE Minsk group member – countries’ Embassies.

E. Mamedyarov also said the OSCE Minsk group American Co – Chair
Steven Mann was to arrive in Baku in mid – October.

The Minister expressed his attitude in connection with the statements
concerning the fact that a certain part of the Minsk group discretion
would be granted to the Council of Europe. “The more international
organizations will be involved in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement
process the better for the solution of the problem. We need the
international community to have more serious approach to the issue”.

FOREIGN GENOCIDE EXPERTS APPLY TO ERDOGAN
By Tatoul Hakobian

AZG Armenian Daily #177
04/10/2005

Armenian Genocide

The September 23 issue of the International Herald Tribune published
the letter by Israel Charni (Israel), Gregory Stanton and Steven
Jacobs (US), genocide experts, addressed to Recep Tayyip Erdogan
in reply to the latter’s claims to begin “unprejudiced researches
of the historians” over the fate of the Armenian people during the
World War I in the Ottoman Empire.

The experts emphasized in the letter that not only Armenians but also
scientists dealing with the genocide issue confirm the fact of the
Armenian genocide. They reminded in the letter that Rafael Lemkin
brought the Armenian genocide as an example when defined the term of
“genocide” in 1944.

The experts said that there can be many comments on the reasons of
the Armenian genocide but no one can deny that it took place.

The experts wrote in the end of the letter it is in the interests of
the Turkish people to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VERDI’S ‘LA TRAVIATA’ TO SIGNAL DAYS OF ARMENIAN-ITALIAN FRIENDSHIP
By Melania Badalian

AZG Armenian Daily #177
04/10/2005

Culture

“Song is more precious than bred”, people say in Italy, the country
of civilizations and arts. So there was a point in opening the Days of
Armenian-Italian friendship with Giuseppe Verdi’s famous “La Traviata”
at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre on 2 October.

RA deputy foreign minister Gegham Gharibjanian and Italian ambassador
to Armenia Marco Clemente opened the Armenia-Italian friendship days
that are officially to start on 5 October.

Mr. Gharibjanian presented in outline the role of the Italian culture
and Italy for Armenia, pointing out that Armenian-Italian relations
originate from ancient times.

One month of celebrations, initiated by the Armenian and Italian
governments and supported by the presidents of the states, is
an unprecedented event, Marco Clemente said, “as a foreign state
makes such efforts to present and to promote its culture to another
state. ‘La Traviata’ is the best start of these days”.

The applications for 36 arrangements of these days promise heaps of
surprises and wonderful moments as well as a unique atmosphere of
music, painting, theatre, architecture and cinema in Yerevan. For
the first time the National Gallery of Armenia will display the best
exhibits of the 300-year-long legacy of the Mkhitarist Congregation
of the St. Lazarus Island (valuable canvases, historic items, old
publications).

CIS INTERIOR MINISTERS TO DISCUSS FIGHTING WITH CORRUPTION

Kyrgyzstan Development Gateway, Kyrgyzstan
Oct 4 2005

Fighting with corruption and illegal migration will dominate the agenda
of a regular conference of the Council of CIS Interior Ministers that
will bring together the ministers from Armenia, Belarus, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine,
and Uzbekistan.

Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev said upon arrival in
Yerevan the ministers were supposed to examine practical actions
under a joint plan for rebuffing terrorism.

Another issue on the agenda is an interstate databank that will be
created on the basis of Information and Analysis Center of the Russian
Interior Ministry.

“Besides, we’ll consider legal acts underlying our cooperation and
changes in the Regulations for Unified Procedures of Interstate
Search for Wanted People,” Nurgaliyev said. He believes the Council
of Interior Ministries is the most smoothly functioning executive
agency in the CIS.

“Its participants are making a good contribution to fighting with
trans-border crime and international terrorism,” Nurgaliyev said.

CIS Executive Secretary Vladimir Rushailo and the Interpol Secretary
General, Kenneth Noble has also come to Yerevan to attend the
conference. Participants in the meeting are expected to meet with
President Robert Kocharian and to visit the Holy Echmiadzin, the main
see of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

ARMENIAN ARCHITECTS CAN MAKE SURP KHACH CHURCH COMPLETE
By Ruzan Poghosian

AZG Armenian Daily #177
04/10/2005

Armenia-Turkey

Armenian architects, who by mediation of Armenia’s national committee
of the International Council on Monuments and Sites were in Turkey
to watch reconstruction works of Surp Khach church of Akhtamar
Island, shared with their impressions at a press conference on 1
October. Architect Ashot Hovsepian said that they failed to meet the
author of the church’s layout, a Turkish architect. The latter did
not come to the meeting for uncertain reasons. The layout fitting
required criteria in general, still has a number of inadequacies that
can be corrected before the end of the reconstruction.

“Those deficiencies are perhaps not a deterioration but the layout
would be more perfect if they were not there. We told 3 Turkish
architects working there about our observations asking to correct
visible deficiencies”, he said. The Turks turned down Armenian
specialists’ offer to mix cement with lime batch. The Armenian
architects think that the quality of the Turks’ work is not satisfying
but the overall impression is not despairing.

Gagik Gyurjian, minister of culture of Armenia, said that Armenian
and Turkish specialists will make visits in near future. The
Turk architects will have a chance to study Armenian architecture
scrupulously. Van-born academician Varazdat Harutyunian expressed
wish to celebrate his 97th anniversary in Van, hoping that Turkey will
open borders and improve relations with Armenia before his birthday.

HEIRS OF GENOCIDE VICTIMS TO GET COMPENSATION FROM A MAJOR INSURANCE COMPANY OF FRANCE
By Ruzan Poghosian

AZG Armenian Daily #177
04/10/2005

Armenian Genocide

As it transpired yesterday, famous Acsa insurance company of France
will recompense the heirs of the Armenian Genocide victims. The
company had a deal with a jural company of California that advocates
the rights of relatives of Genocide victims.

According to the insurance deal that Armenians made with Company in
early 20th century, the descendants and relatives Genocide victims
will get compensation of $17 million. The Union-B Company was devoured
by Acsa becoming a leading modern-day insurance company.

ITAR-TASS agency informs that in foreseeable future suchlike deals
will be signed with other European companies as well.

2ND INTERNATIONAL CHESS TOURNAMENT CONDUCTED IN NAGORNO KARABAKH

De Facto, Armenia
Oct 4 2005

The International chess tournament opened in Stepanakert. 20 sportsmen
from Armenia, Russia, the US, Germany, Nederland, China, Spain,
Finland, Poland, Ukraine, Latvia and Moldova are to participate in
the event.

According to De Facto correspondent in Stepanakert, a lot of famous
chess players are among the participants of the tournament: the US
champion Hikaru Nakamura, the second chess player of China Bu Ksangjy,
Alexei Dreev (Russia), Ivan Sokolov (Nederland), Yevgeny Sveshnikov
(Latvia), Levon Aronyan (Armenia) and others.

To note, it is the second international chess tournament conducted
in Stepanakert. The first one was dedicated to the 75 anniversary of
the 9th world champion Tigran Petrosyan.

On October 1, in the course of the ceremony of opening the NKR Minister
of Education, Culture and Sport Kamo Atayan welcomed the tournament’s
participants. “It is the second traditional tournament in the capital
of independent Nagorno Karabakh. We hope the interest to the ancient
and eternally young game will increase year by year: the number of
the tournament’s participants will grow, which will contribute to
the strengthening of sport and not only sport ties between Armenia
and the countries represented by the participants”, noted Kamo Atayan.

The tournament is conducted according to A and B schemes. By the
results of the toss – up, the following participants met in the A
scheme of the tournament: Ashot Anastasyan (Armenia) – Bartholomeo
Matcheya (Poland), Hikaru Nakamura (the US) – Karen Asryan (Armenia),
Victor Bologan (Moldova) – Levon Aronyan (Armenia), Ivan Sokolov
(Nederland) – Alexei Dreev (Russia), Vasily Ivanchuk ( Ukraine) –
Bu Ksangjy (China).

The B scheme tournament: Catherina Lagno (Ukraine) – Tigran Petrosyan
(Armenia), Yevgeny Sveshnikov (Latvia) – Lopes Martinez (Spain), Sergey
Grigoryants (Russia) – Ervin Lami (Nederland), Beniamin Galstyan
(Armenia) – Arthur Tchibukhchyan (Armenia) and Arsen Yeghiazaryan
(Armenia) – Raj Tishberek (Germany).