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03/23/2005
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1) Demands of Javakhk Armenians Justified, Says Saakashvili Representative
2) US, Armenia Formalize Development Assistance Action Plan
3) Kavkaz-Poti Ferryboat Line Opens
4) Novorossiysk Armenians Seek Russian, Armenian Presidents’ Intervention in
Cossack Rampage
5) Armenian Jews Call for Genocide Recognition

1) Demands of Javakhk Armenians Justified, Says Saakashvili Representative

TBILISI (Combined Sources)–The governor of Samtskhe-Javakhk Goga Khachidze,
representing Georgian President Saakashvilli, met with representatives of the
predominantly Armenian populated region on March 22, along with the organizers
of a protest that took place in the local town of Akhalkalak on March 13.
Citing economic and security concerns, approximately 1,500 residents had
rallied against a recent Georgian parliament resolution calling for the
withdrawal of a Russian military base in Akhalkalak.
During their meeting with Khachidze, local leaders, including representatives
of non-governmental organizations, as well as Akhalkalak’s representative in
Georgian parliament Hamlet Movsisian, and local governor Arthur Yeremian,
presented a row of immediate demands. These included the teaching of Armenian
history in local schools, democratization of local elections, the use of the
Armenian language in local juridical processes, restoration of a
passport/identification bureau in the region, and reconstruction of roads near
the Armenian border where a customs checkpoint is located (goods arriving from
Armenia are presently diverted from that checkpoint to approximately 60 miles
away for inspection).
Khachidze promised a positive resolution by March 28, to the restoration of a
passport/identification bureau. He also pledged to take the issue of teaching
Armenian history in local schools to Georgia’s Ministry of Education for a
quick resolution.
Though he was unable to provide official responses to the remaining issues,
Khachidze later told a press conference that all of the demands are
legitimate,
and he would do his utmost to resolve the issues.

2) US, Armenia Formalize Development Assistance Action Plan

YEREVAN (Armenpress)–Representatives of the US-Armenia Task Force on Economic
Cooperation (USATF) signed an Action Plan on March 23, following their most
recent meeting. Armenia’s Minister of Finance and Economy Vartan Khachatrian
and US Ambassador John Evans formalized the document that highlights
cooperation in development assistance between the US and Armenia.
“This Action Plan is our development roadmap,” said Ambassador Evans at
signing ceremony. “It helps us set clear goals and ensures that we are
cooperating as governments toward a bright future for the Armenian people.”
The 30-point action plan includes means to improve fiscal administration,
strengthen the banking sector, fight corruption, engage the business
community,
meet Armenia’s needs in the public service sector, and strengthen ongoing
cooperation in the agricultural and humanitarian sectors. The document also
acknowledges Armenia’s eligibility for the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA)
and the need to register progress in MCA eligibility areas.
The signing was preceded by a series of working-level meetings on each of
these items between officials of the US Embassy and USAID and various
Government of Armenia ministries. USAID-Armenia Director Robin Phillips also
participated in the event.
The US-Armenia Task Force on Economic Cooperation was established in January
2000 as a way to institutionalize government-to-government dialogue on
development issues, promote further economic cooperation, and maximize the
effectiveness of assistance programs implemented by the United States
Government. Meetings are held twice a year (once in the United States and once
in Armenia). The next USATF meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held in May
2005 in Yerevan.
The United States Government has provided over 1.5 billion dollars of
assistance to the Republic of Armenia over the past decade.

3) Kavkaz-Poti Ferryboat Line Opens

TBILISI (Armenpress)–The ferryboat line connecting the Russian port of Kavkaz
on the Black Sea with the Georgian port of Poti opened on Wednesday. The first
flour-loaded carriages will reach the Georgian port in two days.
Kavkazpress news agency reported that Georgia is committed to uninterrupted
operation of the ferryboat line, especially in winter months when overland
roads connecting it with Russia are closed because of heavy snowfalls.
The ferryboat line was expected to begin working last January 20, but its
opening was postponed twice at Russia’s request.
The ferryboat will transport up to 30 carriages weekly–part of which will go
to Armenia. It will cut transportation cost of Armenia-bound goods by 30
percent.
The Georgian City of Poti, Armenia’s nearest seaport, can be reached by road
from Yerevan. It serves as a primary gateway for Armenia–both for imports and
exports.
Armenia has 840 kilometers of railway; however, of the three international
rail connections via Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, only the Georgian
connection to the Black Sea ports of Poti and Batumi are presently in
operation, due to trade embargoes imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Armenian government officials and businessmen hope that the opening of a rail
ferry service between Poti and Kavkaz, which was scheduled to operate in late
January, would partly restore Armenia’s rail connection with the outside
world.

4) Novorossiysk Armenians Seek Russian, Armenian Presidents’ Intervention in
Cossack Rampage

NOVOROSSIYSK (Armenpress)–According to a report from the southern Russian
city
of Novorossiysk in the province of Krasnodar, the local Armenian community has
asked for the Russian and Armenian presidents’ intervention in putting an end
to a new wave of anti-Armenian pogroms.
Yerkramas weekly, a newspaper run by the Armenian community of southern
Russia, reported that the local Armenian community said city law-enforcement
bodies have failed to uphold their promise to guarantee local Armenians’
safety.
The newspaper said these guarantees were given on March 22, after Cossacks
from nearby regions went on a rampage in a town quarter populated by
Armenians– destroying cars, cafes, and shops owned by Armenians. On the same
day, the mayor appealed to the Armenians, Greeks, and Cossacks to observe the
law and refrain from disorder; however, on the same evening, around 200
Cossacks went on the attack against Armenians and Greeks.
According to a witness, the clash was caused by a squabble at a local cafe
when Cossacks, led by their Community leader Vladimir Petrushin, attacked a
group of Armenians and Greeks who were having a birthday party. In the
subsequent fight, Petrushin was injured and was rushed to a hospital where
doctors operated on him. Local law-enforcement bodies launched a criminal
investigation.
Novorossiysk Mayor Vladimir Sinyagovskiy held a discussion with
representatives of national communities of the city, stating that those guilty
would be exposed and punished. An agreement was reached not to aggravate the
situation. The local Armenian cultural society “Luys” said that the Armenian
party strictly observed the agreement, calling on its compatriots for calmness
and allowing law-enforcement structures to gain control over the situation.
Inter-ethnic tension in this region has become commonplace. The historic
Armenian presence in the Krasnodar region dates back centuries, mainly due to
the incentives offered by Tsarist officials to Armenians willing to move to
the
region. Throughout the 19th century, the Armenians contributed to an expansion
of the region’s commerce and agriculture.
Additional numbers of Armenian refugees settled in the region in 1988 in the
wake of anti-Armenian pogroms by Azeris in Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku.
A related influx of Armenians from Karabagh, Javakhk, and Abkhazia also
strengthened the Armenian presence in the Krasnodar region. After fleeing the
anti-Armenian attacks by Azeris, the Russian-speaking Armenians from Baku, in
particular, often preferred to resettle in Krasnodar, Stavropol, and Moscow,
rather than in Armenia, mainly because of their lack of Armenian language
skills and the need for Russian schools that were closing in Armenia.

5) Armenian Jews Call for Genocide Recognition

YEREVAN (Yerkir) –The Jewish community of Armenia called on Jewish
organizations around the globe to recognize the Armenian Genocide. “Ottoman
Turkey killed 1.5 million of its Armenian citizens, and for decades, mankind
has not condemned this,” reads the appeal adopted by the congress of the
Armenian Jews.
“The Holocaust may have been avoided if the world had united against this
brutality–as it does now to fight terror,” the appeal states, adding that no
political or economic interest should become an obstacle for recognition of
this tragedy.
Addressing the role of the Turkish people in recognizing the horror of its
past, they state, “It would only elevate them in the eyes of the civilized
world as was the case with Germany, which admitted to the killings of 6
million
Jews under Nazis.”

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
Prelate of Western United States
Tel: 818-248-7737
Fax: 818-248-7745
[email protected]

Prelate’s Easter Message

THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST IS OUR LIFE-GIVING SOURCE

“And you Lord, by meeting with the Apostles granted them your
life-giving greeting and sent them off to save the world.”

(Hymn)

On these first days of Spring, together with the flowering and
renewal of nature once again we proclaim the glorious Resurrection of
our Lord Jesus Christ and renew the message of our spiritual and
national rebirth.

Describing the Resurrection of Christ according to the gospels, the
hymn-writer tells us about the oil-bearing women who went to the tomb
on the third day following the burial of Christ, they discovered that
the tomb stone had been moved and heard the angel say,

“Christ is risen and conquered death”

(Hymn)

The Lord revealed Himself to Mary Magdalene and the women
accompanying her and to the Apostles. Whoever the Lord met, was
blessed with renewed life.

“And you Lord, by meeting with the Apostles granted them
your life-giving greeting and sent them off to save the world.”

(Hymn)

***

It is the undeniable truth that the arch of the Gospel rests upon two
major pillars: the Death of Christ and the Resurrection.

The Apostle Paul describes this truth with these words:

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,
how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. And
that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day according
to the Scriptures.” (1st Corinthians, 15:3-4)

By entering through the arch of the Resurrection, the
Apostles became the fearless preachers of the new religion and they
spread their testimony for the salvation of the World. They
witnessed that the Resurrected Lord “was delivered for our offences,
and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)

Uplifted by the apparition of the angels and renewed by the Lord’s
life-giving greetings, they proclaimed the Resurrection of the
Savior, who lighted up the lives of all those who believed in His
Holy Resurrection and followed his teachings, knowing that death was
defeated, that there was life after death, and the promise of
salvation.

***

Centuries ago, with the faith based on the reality of the
Resurrection, our forefathers accepted the Resurrected Christ,
received His life-giving greetings and put forth their efforts for
the salvation of our nation. Since the first century, the same
life-giving greetings were received by the King Apkar and our first
martyr St. Santoukhd, followed by St. Gregory the Illuminator and St.
Mesrob Mashdotz, St. Vartanantz and numerous other saints, martyrs,
and heroes who became worthy of the promise of the crown of
righteousness.

Indeed the year 2005, is a significant year for our nation nourished
by the breath of the Resurrection, as we will commemorate:

· The 1600th anniversary of the invention of the Armenian
alphabet;

· The 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide;

· The 75th anniversary of the Great House of Cilicia Seminary

His Holiness Aram I, with encyclicals, invited all of us
to consider these three historic anniversaries.

Will the 1600th anniversary of the discovery of the Armenian
Alphabet, along with the heritage left to us by St. Mesrob Mashdots
and the Holy Translators, help us renew our spiritual and national
path to lead our lives according to the faith of our forefathers?

With the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, how will we
remember the â~@~Armenian Golgothaâ~@~] of our Martyrs, and as the
children of a resurrected nation stand up for justice honor their
memory and demand for compensation for shedding their innocent blood?

And will the 75th anniversary of the Seminary, which in our Prelacy
will be celebrated during the Pontifical visit of His Holiness Aram
I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, in October, in California,
serve to mobilize our parents and new generation to brace themselves
with the faith of the Resurrection.

***

Let all of us be renewed by the message of the Holy Resurrection and
be inspired by the glory of the 1600th anniversary of the discovery
of the Armenian alphabet, to lead our lives with faith and
commitment.

As we commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide by
remembering our Martyrs who witnessed the path of the cross and the
â~@~Armenian Golgothaâ~@~] at Der Zor, let us renew our pledge to
walk the path of truth and justice with the spirit of the
Resurrection.

With the hope of being worthy of the life-giving greetings of our
Resurrected Savior and with the desire of splendoring our spiritual,
church and national lives, let us actively support our churches,
schools and seminary, so that the new generations will receive a
wholesome education and ensure our nation’s future.

***

On the occasion of Christ’s Glorious Resurrection, we convey our love
and blessings to our Prelacy clergy, representative assembly,
executive council, all who serve within our parishes, our schools,
organizations and our faithful people.

It is our prayer that we continue to serve to enliven our people with
renewed faith and spiritual joy, warmed by the Resurrection and our
Savior’s life-bearing spirit, and exclaim:

“Christ is risen from the dead.

Blessed be the Resurrection of Christ.”

Prayerfully,

Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian

Prelate, Western United States

Easter, 2005

–Boundary_(ID_3w45GzZK+VpELZ6BtSZkXg)–

Scripps Howard News Service
March 23 2005

Muslim keeps the keys at the holiest site in Christendom
By MATTHEW KALMAN
Scripps Howard News Service
March 23, 2005

JERUSALEM – Every day at 4 a.m., Wajeeh Nuseibeh walks through the
walled Old City of Jerusalem to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the
holiest shrine in Christendom. Most Christians believe it is the site
of the crucifixion, tomb and resurrection of Jesus.

Nuseibeh takes an ancient 12-inch iron key, climbs a small ladder and
opens the huge wooden doors.

Every evening at nightfall, after three raps of an iron door knocker
spaced out over half an hour, Nuseibeh closes up for the night and
places the key in safekeeping.

He inherited the job from his father and grandfather, part of a chain
stretching back more than 1,300 years.

But surprisingly for the doorkeeper of the site of the Crucifixion,
Nuseibeh, 55, like his ancestors, is a Muslim.

“It goes from father to son, from one generation to the next,” said
Nuseibeh, a small, dapper man in a suit and tie, with a dark
mustache. “I was 15 when I first opened the church. I thought it was
fun. As I grew up I realized it is a big responsibility.”

The Holy Sepulchre is a vast warren of chapels, tunnels and caves
with pieces of church architecture dating back to the fourth century
and spanning a broad range of traditions from the Westernized
cathedral of the Catholics to the Eastern brass and icons of the
Orthodox churches.

It houses the final stations on the Via Dolorosa – the journey of
Jesus to his crucifixion – and attracts hundreds of thousands of
pilgrims and sightseers every year.

The church is jealously managed by five competing and often warring
Christian denominations. Sometimes the tensions over the right to
clean or pray in an area of the church spills over into violence.

Nuseibeh’s family has helped keep the peace between them since Caliph
Omar Ibn Kattab first conquered Jerusalem for the Muslims in 638. The
only gap was 88 years of crusader rule in the 12th century. According
to the family history, when Salah A-Din recaptured Jerusalem in 1191,
he promised Richard the Lion Heart he would invite the Nuseibeh
family members to resume their role as custodians. Since that time,
Judeh family members, also Muslims, have been given the key for
safekeeping overnight. The two families have shared the position ever
since.

Once a year, the three biggest denominations – Greek Orthodox, Roman
Catholic and Armenian – publicly renew their request to Nuseibeh to
be the “custodian and door-keeper” as written on his business card
and multimedia Web site.

About 100 years ago, the key was stolen. Now they keep a spare inside
the church. Nuseibeh receives $15 every month for his labor, but the
ancient honor is worth more to him than the token payment. When
tensions boil over between the churches, Nuseibeh is the one who
calms the waters.

“Like all brothers, they sometimes have problems. We help them settle
their disputes. We are the neutral people in the church. We are the
United Nations. We help preserve peace in this holy place,” he said.

Nuseibeh said he still becomes anxious before big ceremonies, or when
important visitors arrive.

“I realize there are thousands of people waiting to go into the
church and they are waiting for me to open it, and I start to imagine
what will happen if the lock will be broken or the key is damaged and
I can’t open the door,” he said.

But it has never happened in the 20 years since he took over from his
father. He hopes that one day his son Obadah, now 21, will step into
his footsteps, but it’s not certain.

“He is at college, studying to be a sports trainer,” said Nuseibeh.
“Maybe he will not follow me, and then my brother or my cousin will
take over.”

Easter celebrations at the Holy Sepulchre will place the diminutive
Muslim center-stage as thousands flock to the church for services,
processions and the ancient ceremony of the Holy Fire, in which
Nuseibeh plays a central role.

The ceremony is held each year on Easter Saturday and symbolizes the
resurrection of Christ. Thousands of worshippers pack into the church
around the marble-clad tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. The oil lamps
inside the empty tomb are extinguished and a huge stone rolled across
the entrance, which is then sealed shut by Greek Orthodox priests.

“If there are no oil lamps lit, the tomb will be sealed with wax. I
am the witness. I put my stamp, the name of the family, in the wax on
the tomb,” Nuseibeh said.

What happens next looks like a miracle. The Orthodox patriarch begins
to pray, and a bluish Holy Fire begins to emanate from within the
tomb, lighting the lamps and sometimes flying around the church, over
the heads of the assembled worshippers, lighting the candles of
believers.

Nuseibeh, who has been the official witness at this ceremony for more
than 20 years, said he was deeply touched by the Christian rituals
and felt a close affinity with the church, but he does not pray
there.

“I know every stone. It is like my home,” he said. “But I go to pray
at the Omar Mosque next door.”

YEREVAN AUTHORITIES INTEND TO PLANT 30,000 TREES THIS YEAR

YEREVAN, MARCH 21. ARMINFO. Plantation of threes will start on April
16 2005 in Yerevan, Head of Nature Protection Department of Yerevan
Municipality Romik Kosemyan informs journalists today.

He says that the capital’s authorities intend to plant 30,000 trees
and 41,000 bushes this year. Besides, within the frameworks of a
preliminary agreement with CJSC “Armles” (Armforest), 60-80,000 trees
will be planted. In its turn, “Tsaratunk” charity organization intends
to plant 4-5,000 trees and bushes.

KARABAGH FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES REPORTS ABOUT MEETING OF
UNRECOGNIZED REPUBLICS LEADERS

ArmenPress
March 22 2005

MOSCOW, MARCH 22, ARMENPRESS: The leader of Georgia’s breakaway
region of Abkhazia, Sergey Bagapsh, told reporters in Moscow on
Monday he was satisfied with the results of his visit to the Russian
capital.
He said among other issues he also discussed with Russian
transport minister Igor Levitin possibilities for opening of a
transit railway communication between Moscow and Yerevan through
Abkhazia.
“This is not an easy question as Georgia links it to political
problems,” Bagapsh said, adding that consultations with the Georgian
side are going to be held to specify what has to be done for that
purpose. He said possibly a joint venture with Russia may be set up
or the railway section across Abkhazia may be leased.
Bagapsh also said leaders of four unrecognized republics of
Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transdniester and Nagorno Karabagh will meet
in April in Abkhazia’s capital city Sukhumi. He said foreign
ministers of the four republics will prepare the text of a joint
statement before the meeting.
He also said Abkhazia will walk out of the talks with Georgia and
will assist South Ossetia if Georgia launches an aggression against
it. He added that similar statements will be made by the leaders of
other self-proclaimed republics.
But Nagorno Karabagh foreign affairs ministry denied today press
reports that Karabagh leader Arkady Ghukasian will meet with the
leaders of the self-proclaimed republics of South Ossetia,
Transdniester, Abkhazia.
The ministry said it has enough “technical means” to inform the
public about its foreign policy agenda.

The Republican, MA
March 22 2005

Chess champ announces retirement

By ROZA EYNULLAYEVA
The MacDuffie School

Garry Kasparov, the world’s top ranked chess player, has announced
his retirement from competitive chess at age 41.

Kasparov became the youngest world champion in chess at age 22 and
made news for his games against IBM supercomputer Deep Blue and his
six-month match in the mid-1980s against Anatoly Karpov.

“It is very difficult to quote one reason,” Kasparov is quoted as
saying on ChessBase.com when asked by journalists why he decided to
retire.

“But if I try I could tell you that, as you know, I am a man of big
goals. I have to achieve something, I have to prove something, I have
to be determined. But I no longer see any real goal in the world of
chess.”

Kasparov added that “I haven’t lost my passion for the game. That is
why from time to time I may play for fun, maybe in some rapid
tournaments. But it will only be for fun.”

Kasparov’s announcement came after his ninth win in the prestigious
Linares tournament earlier this month in Spain.

Kasparov indicated his plans include work on several writing projects
including a book tentatively titled, “How Life Imitates Chess,”
expected to be released in several languages by the end of the year.

“It is a very important project because I want to demonstrate to a
mainstream audience how the game of chess can explain the
decision-making process in many walks of life,” Kasparov is quoted as
saying on ChessBase.com

Kasparov, who lives in Russia, also indicated he plans to continue to
devote time to Russian politics.

“As a chess player, I did everything I could, even more. Now, I want
to use my intellect and strategic thinking in Russian politics,”
ESPN.com quotes Kasparov as saying in a statement cited by Interfax
news agency.

“I will do everything in my power to resist Putin’s dictatorship. My
opinion is that the country is headed down the wrong path now.”

Kasparov is a member of Committee 2008: Free Choice, a group formed
by liberal leaders opposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin whose
term ends in 2008.

One can only wonder what effect Kasparov’s resignation will have on
chess players throughout the world.

Kasparov, who was born in what was then the Soviet republic of
Azerbaijan, entered chess school at the age of 10 in 1973. He became
the world’s junior chess champion at the age of 16 and a year later
attained the title of grandmaster.

Kasparov was a true genius in many aspects of the game: he had the
greatest command of the board; had a superb capability of calculating
moves at least 15 moves ahead without moving any piece; and his
passion for competitive chess led him to compete in tournaments for
over 30 years.

Kasparov became so huge on the board as well as off the board that he
was invited to play two matches against the strongest computers at
the time: Deep Blue in 1997 and Deep Junior in 2003, which could
calculate well over a million moves each second.

SECOND SAILING OF “KILIKIA” TO START ON MAY 9

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. “Kilikia” sailing vessel, at
present stationed in Venice St.Lazzaro Island, will start its second
four-month sailing on May 9. As Karen Balayan, the Chairman of “Ayas”
club informed Noyan Tapan correspondent, “Kilikia” which was built
similar to the trade ships of the 13th century, will sail along the
Mediterranean Sea to Gibraltar, then will go into the Atlantic Ocean,
and then passing around Portugal, Spain and other European countries
will get to Amsterdam, capital of Holland. According to K.Balayan,
who is also the Captain of “Kilikia”, in 2006 the vessel will be
brought to the Sevan Lake and turned into a museum. RA Government
allocated 32.9 ml dram (about 70 thousand USA dollar) for the sailing
According to K.Balayan, with the help of these means preparation works
will be realized, some equipments, new paddles, food and etc. will
be bought. To recap, that the former navigation of “Kilikia” took
place last year, along the Black, Marmara, Aegean, Crete, Ionian and
Adriatic Seas.

La Croix
21 mars 2005

Hommage. Gérard Stéphanesco semblait destiné à ce rôle de médiateur
entre l’Occident et le Proche-Orient. Gérard Stéphanesco, l’oeil des
Églises d’Orient. Jean-Pierre Mahé, Membre de l’Institut

MAHE Jean-Pierre

Lundi 7 mars, dans un esprit oecuménique, on célébrait à la
cathédrale arménienne de Paris, selon le rite maronite, le service
funèbre du journaliste Gérard Stéphanesco (1926-2005). L’Église
apostolique arménienne et les autres Églises orientales sont si
étroitement liées aux identités nationales qu’elles n’accompagnent
pas si souvent “dans la Jérusalem céleste” un chrétien étranger à
l’Orient. Mais depuis longtemps, Gérard Stéphanesco leur était bien
connu. Ses émissions de radio et de télévision “Foi et traditions des
chrétiens orientaux” étaient devenues un repère culturel important
pour tous les auditeurs curieux des origines chrétiennes ou épris de
l’originalité des Églises proches des lieux de la révélation et du
berceau des plus vieilles civilisations du monde.

Gérard Stéphanesco semblait destiné à ce rôle de médiateur entre
l’Occident et le Proche-Orient. Né à Paris en 1926 d’une mère
française et d’un père roumain, il reçut à Bucarest une éducation
polyglotte et européenne avant l’heure. Il se partagea dès
l’adolescence entre la France et la Roumanie, l’orthodoxie de son
père et le catholicisme de sa mère, auquel il resta attaché toute sa
vie. Cette fidélité s’accompagnait d’une fascination pour les
origines orientales du christianisme et pour les évolutions
historiques complexes qui ont déterminé la situation actuelle des
diverses Églises chrétiennes.

En 1964 il est chargé, comme producteur délégué, de présenter les
Églises orientales à la radio et, l’année suivante, à la télévision,
dans le cadre des émissions religieuses du dimanche matin. Il fallait
intéresser le grand public à la vie de ces communautés si diverses,
tantôt issues des patriarcats d’Alexandrie (chrétiens de rite copte
et éthiopien), d’Antioche (rites maronite, syrien et assyrien), ou
encore de Constantinople: orthodoxes ou catholiques de rite
byzantino-slave, au Proche-Orient et en Europe de l’Est notamment.
Sans parler de l’Arménie, premier État devenu chrétien dans
l’Histoire, et de toute sa diaspora.

Gérard Stéphanesco était avant tout un homme de contact et de
terrain. Quand on allait chez lui, on découvrait, accrochées au mur,
d’innombrables photographies de prélats et patriarches qu’il avait
rencontrés dans tout le Proche-Orient. Débordant par principe le
cadre liturgique et cultuel, il s’efforçait d’inscrire la religion
dans la vie culturelle et l’histoire des communautés.

Dans toutes ses activités, il resta fidèle à trois convictions fermes
et simples: toutes les Églises chrétiennes, dans leur diversité,
constituent ensemble l’unique Corps du Christ; le christianisme est,
par nature, une religion orientale, et à ce titre les Églises
orientales détiennent une part irremplaçable des traditions
chrétiennes; enfin, l’Église arménienne offre un exemple admirable de
fidélité aux origines du message évangélique.

Les émissions “Foi et traditions des chrétiens orientaux” ont offert
ainsi une véritable ouverture sur des aspects insoupçonnés du
Proche-Orient. Elles révèlent la profondeur des racines culturelles
et la consanguinité foncière des grandes religions du Livre. C’est un
vaste champ de recherches, qui garde plus que jamais sa légitimité.
Il faut espérer que ce rendez-vous, attendu chaque mois par de
nombreux téléspectateurs, sera maintenu dans les programmes du
dimanche matin.

–Boundary_(ID_AMSSVFayg3QpJ7sv1yvalQ)–

NEWS Press
21 mars 2005

Reporters sans frontières – Turquie : Sérieuses inquiétudes pour la liberté de la presse

RSF – Reporters sans frontières

Turquie : Sérieuses inquiétudes pour la liberté de la presse : un
nouveau code pénal plus répressif, des procédures judiciaires
toujours trop nombreuses

Alors que perdurent les vieux réflexes répressifs du pouvoir exécutif
à l’égard des journalistes, les médias turcs ont dénoncé les
dispositions restrictives du nouveau code pénal qui doit entrer en
application le 1er avril 2005.

Reporters sans frontières « s’associe aux protestations des
journalistes turcs et s’inquiète sérieusement de l’entrée en vigueur
de ce nouveau code pénal. Loin d’aligner le droit turc sur le droit
européen en matière de liberté d’expression, certains articles du
code risquent au contraire de favoriser des poursuites judiciaires
arbitraires à l’encontre des journalistes. Nous demandons la
modification de ce texte et l’abolition des peines de prison en
matière de délit de presse » a déclaré l’organisation.

Par ailleurs, le Premier ministre a déposé plainte pour diffamation
contre deux dessinateurs et exigé d’importants dommages et intérêts.
Pour avoir caricaturé en chat la tête de Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Musa
Kart, caricaturiste du quotidien républicain de gauche Cumhuriyet (40
000 exemplaires) a été condamné, le 21 décembre 2004, par la 8è
chambre du tribunal correctionnel d’Ankara, à une amende d’ environ 3
000 euros. Les juges ont estimé que cette caricature publiée le 9 mai
2004 était « de nature à humilier le Premier ministre ». L’avocat de
Musa Kart a fait appel, le 22 février, de cette décision. Recep
Tayyip Erdogan a également déposé une plainte pour diffamation contre
le caricaturiste Sefer Selvi, qui avait représenté Cüneyt Zapsu,
conseiller du Premier ministre, sur le dos du chef de l’éxécutif,
pour le quotidien de gauche Günlük Evrensel. Le procès est toujours
en cours.

Les journalistes dans la rue

Environ 250 journalistes ont manifesté dans les rues d’Istanbul le 17
mars pour tenter de convaincre le gouvernement de repousser l’entrée
en vigueur du nouveau code pénal, prévue le 1er avril. La presse
réclame son report d’au moins 6 mois, considérant qu’il contient de
nombreuses restrictions à la liberté de la presse et que certains
articles, rédigés en des termes trop vagues, pourraient entraîner la
multiplication des poursuites judiciaires à l’encontre des
journalistes.

L’ « insulte envers une personne, de nature à l’humilier, la
déshonorer et porter atteinte à sa dignité », (article125 du nouveau
code pénal) est passible de trois mois à deux ans de prison. La peine
peut être augmentée d’un tiers si elle commise par voie de presse
(alinéa 4).

Un autre article sujet à polémique, le 305, punit de 3 ans à 10 ans
de prison et d’une amende toute revendication portant sur le «
génocide arménien » ou « le retrait des forces armées turques de
Chypre », considérés comme allant à l’encontre des « intérêts
nationaux fondamentaux ». La peine peut aller jusqu’à 15 ans de
prison si cette revendication est effectuée par voie de presse. Des
dizaines de journalistes ont été emprisonnés dans le passé pour avoir
simplement exprimé leur opinion sur ce type de sujet.

Par ailleurs, avant l’entrée en vigueur du nouveau code pénal, les
tribunaux semblent accélérer les condamnations pour « insulte à
l’armée ». L’article 159/1 sera aboli après le 1er avril. Ainsi, le
16 mars, Erol Özkoray, chroniqueur pour le quotidien prokurde Ozgur
Gündem a reçu la notification du tribunal de grande instance de
Sisli, à Istanbul, qui le condamne à un an de prison ou à 1 000 euros
de dommages et intérets, à la suite de la publication sur le site
, le 26 novembre 2001, de deux articles intitulés
« A quoi sert l’armée » et « Nouveaux barbares et Taliban en
épaulettes ».

–Boundary_(ID_R9y6tiW3Bu9n06eVVNEm0A)–

KOSOVO DECISION AS PRECEDENT FOR SELF-PROCLAIMED REPUBLICS

RIA Novosti, Russia
March 22 2005

MOSCOW, March 22 (RIA Novosti) – The settlement of the Kosovo
status problem can serve as a precedent for other regions seeking
independence, particularly Nagorny Karabakh, Abkhazia, South Ossetia,
Northern Cyprus, Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the State
Duma Committee on International Affairs, said in an interview with
RIA Novosti.

Prospects for the Kosovo settlement will be prominent on the agenda of
the State Duma delegation’s visit to the Balkans due on March 23-29,
he pointed out.

“There are many similar situations in Europe, which need a legally
coordinated resolution either in favor of territorial integrity or in
favor of the right of nations to self-determination. And the Kosovo
problem can become a precedent in this context,” Kosachev said.

Another example for the solution of similar problems in Baltic states
can become the settlement of the problem of ethnic minorities in
Macedonia, the official believes.

The MP recalled the Ohrid agreements signed in Macedonia in 2002
after an ethnic conflict with the Albanians. They provide equality
with the state language for the language of an ethnic minority,
if it accounts for no less than 20% of the population.

“This case is very interesting and can be applied to the Baltic
problem,” Kosachev noted.

The protection of ethnic minorities’ rights will be one of the
most important issues during the visit of the Russian delegation to
the Balkans on March 22-29. The Russian MPs will go to Serbia and
Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia.

“So far as Serbia and Montenegro is concerned this is one of our
closest partners both economically and historically,” he stressed.

“We are interested in the preservation of the two republic’s union.
But if the parties decide to split, this must be a civilized divorce”,
the MP remarked.

He announced that the delegation is expected to meet heads of state,
foreign ministers and MPs in every country it visits.

“The countries take interest in Russia, and it is a good sign for us,”
the head of the State Duma’ international affairs committee concluded.