ArmenPress
Jan 10 2005

LESS ARMENIANS SOUGHT ASYLUM IN 2004

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS: The number of Armenians who
sought asylum in 36 developed countries in the first nine months of
2004 fell by 4.1 percent against the same time span of the previous
year-from 4,119 to 3,951.
In the first half of the passed year Armenians sought asylum
mainly in France, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria.
According to a government-affiliated department for refugees, the
number of Armenians who sought asylum in the first nine months of
2004 was 6 percent less than that of Georgians but 1.3 percent higher
than that of Azeris.
Among CIS member countries the majority of asylum seekers were
from Russia, followed by Georgia, Azerbaijan was seven in the list.

ArmenPress
Jan 10 2005

ONE ARMENIAN AFFECTED BY TSUNAMI

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS: The sole Armenian that was
affected by the late December Asian tsunami disaster was a US
Armenian Armine Gevorkian. The Armenian honorary consul in Thailand,
Norayr Ter-Gevorkian, told Armenpress she is among the missing
persons. He said no other Armenians were found among the tsunami
victims.
Armenia’s former ambassador to India, Indonesia, Nepal and Sri
Lanka, Armen Bayburdian, said no Armenians live in Chennai (Madras),
the capital of India’s Tamil Nadu state that was most affected by the
disaster. He said the families of two Armenian women who are married
to Indians in Madras did not suffer from the tsunami.
He said a few Armenians working in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta
were not either affected. According to him, no Armenians live in Sri
Lanka and the Maldives. No Armenians in Somali were affected either.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
Jan 10 2005

IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO BAKU SAYS SIGNIFICANCE OF TEHRAN’S TIES WITH
YEREVAN OFTEN EXAGGERATED

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS: In an interview with an
Azerbaijani Day.az online newspaper, Iranian ambassador Afshar
Suleiman shrugged off allegations that his country’s cooperation with
Armenia may harm Azeri-Iranian relations.
“There are Armenian-Iranian ties but they are not directed against
Azerbaijan. The significance of these ties are often exaggerated,”
the ambassador said.
“Armenia and Iran have signed an agreement on building a gas
pipeline which is supposed to be completed by 2007. Before the
pipeline is built the region may see extensive changes, particularly,
Armenia and Azerbaijan may resolve their problems,” he was quoted as
saying.
The ambassador said also Iran would not use the Iran-Armenia
pipeline against Azerbaijan. stressing that Iran-Armenia ties may
benefit Azerbaijan, as Iran may help promote the resolution of the
Nagorno Karabagh conflict.

St. Louis Post Dispatch, MO
Jan 10 2005

Shamrig Marifian, 94; a survivor of genocide
By Kimberly Ratliff
Of the Post-Dispatch

Shamrig (Jamgochian) Marifian, a survivor of the Armenian genocide,
died Monday (Jan. 3, 2005) of natural causes at Memorial Hospital in
Belleville. She was 94.

Mrs. Marifian was born in Van, Armenia. At the age of 6, she and her
family had to flee because of the genocide conducted by the Turkish
government against the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire.

Mrs. Marifian and her two sisters survived the flight, but her
parents and two brothers died of starvation and illness.

Mrs. Marifian lived in orphanages before immigrating to the United
States in 1926.

Mrs. Marifian lived with cousins in the St. Louis area until she
married George Marifian, who was also from Van (now a part of
Turkey), in 1931. Over the years, she helped her husband, who owned
dry-cleaning establishments in East St. Louis and Belleville. When he
died in 1959, Mrs. Marifian and her son John continued to run the
business until it was sold in 1978.

In the mid-1950s, Mrs. Marifian was an active supporter in getting
the first Holy Shoghagat Armenian Church formed in East St. Louis.
The church has since moved to Swansea.

Among survivors are two sons, John Marifian of Downey, Calif., and
George E. Marifian of Belleville; two daughters, Amie Nersesian of
Belleville and Julia Matoesian of Edwardsville; 13 grandchildren; 12
great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

A funeral was Friday.

Memorials to Holy Virgin Mary and Shoghagat Armenian Church, 400
Huntwood Road, Swansea, Ill., 62226.

ARMENIA THIS WEEK

Monday, January 10, 2005

In this issue:

Parliament OK’s Armenia’s joining of U.S.-led coalition in Iraq

Senior European politicians call for formalizing Armenian control of NK

Heritage Foundation: Armenia remains regional leader in economic freedom

Baltic Times: Turkey must face the truth to be admitted to EU

PARLIAMENT APPROVES IRAQ DEPLOYMENT

A solid majority of the Armenian Parliament members voted last month to
approve the government’s decision to join the U.S.-led coalition in
Iraq. The 46-person task force drawn from professional military,
including commanders who have Kosovo peacekeeping experience, includes
transportation, de-mining and medical personnel and is due to deploy in
Iraq within two weeks. They will serve for at least a year as part of
the Polish-led multi-national division south of Baghdad.

Parliamentarians voted 91 to 23 with one abstention following seven
hours of closed-door debate that ran late into the night of December 27.
Defense officials led by Minister Serge Sargsian lobbied for the move as
important for Armenia’s national interest. Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian’s Republican Party, Speaker Artur Baghdasarian’s Country of
Law Party, United Labor Party of businessman Gurgen Arsenian, opposition
National Unity Party of Artashes Geghamian and a number of non-party
members voted in favor, while the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutiun) and the opposition Justice Bloc voted against.

In comments following the vote Sargsian said that “Armenia cannot have
stayed aside from actions by other states that are aimed at peace and
stability, and at combating terrorism. I think that the U.S. needs
Armenian support in Iraq, otherwise there would be no such decision.”
Dashnaktsutiun leaders, while voting against deployment, said they
“understood” the government’s motives. The Justice Bloc, along with
several non-government organizations, accused the government of exposing
the Armenian community in Iraq and Armenia itself to possible
retaliatory attacks by anti-U.S. insurgents and terrorists. A recent
poll found that just as in most other countries with forces in Iraq, the
majority of Armenians opposed the move.

Iraqi Armenians, as well as other Christian minorities in Iraq, have
already come under insurgents’ attacks. The Armenian government
officials argued that they would be at risk whether or not Armenia takes
part in Iraq’s stabilization. (Sources: Armenia This Week 12-13;
Associated Press 12-27; Interfax 12-27; RFE/RL Armenia Report 12-27,
1-7)

SENIOR EUROPEAN POLITICIANS PROPOSE FORMALIZING ARMENIAN CONTROL OF NK

Armenia should take “temporary control” over Nagorno Karabakh until a
new popular referendum is held there in five to ten years. This is what
the former Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio and the current chairman
of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Pierre Lellouche of France suggest as
a compromise way out of the current deadlock in the Karabakh peace
process. Palacio and Lellouche recently toured the Caucasus.

Nagorno Karabakh held a legally sanctioned referendum in 1991 that paved
the way for its formal separation from then Soviet Azerbaijan.
Successive Azeri governments refused to abide by results of that vote
and launched several unsuccessful offensives to take control of the
region and remove its population until the current cease-fire came into
effect in 1994. In 2001, following protracted negotiations, the late
Azeri President Heydar Aliyev was close to an agreement that would lead
to Karabakh’s incorporation into Armenia in exchange for the return of
most of the Azeri districts now held by Karabakh Armenian forces. The
Azeri government has since insisted on unilateral Armenian concessions
before agreeing on Karabakh’s status.

Armenian and Azeri Foreign Ministers Vartan Oskanian and Elmar Mamedyrov
are due to meet in Prague tomorrow to continue their discussions on a
new approach to settlement. The two officials are reportedly considering
combining mutually acceptable approaches from past proposals that had
been turned down. Last year, the “peace process” over Karabakh was set
back substantially, following Azeri President Ilham Aliyev’s comments
that he would not make compromises and would seek ways to put greater
pressure on Armenia.

Most recently, the Azeri government blocked rail traffic into Georgia to
tighten its economic blockade against Armenia. Azeri officials alleged
that some of the goods, like fuels from Central Asia shipped via Baku to
Tbilisi, were destined for Armenia. The move had no impact on Armenia’s
market, however, where prices for gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel
fell reflecting wider market trends. (Sources: Armenia This Week 12-13,
20; Arminfo 12-14, 1-10; Zerkalo 12-22; Le Figaro 12-21; Mediamax 12-21;
Noyan Tapan 12-22)

ARMENIA IMPROVES ECONOMIC FREEDOM RECORD, REMAINS REGIONAL LEADER

The annual rating of economic policies around the world, prepared by the
Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation, a leading U.S.
conservative think tank, was published last week. Armenia has once again
improved its record, while continuing to lead its region in economic
freedom. Armenia was ranked 42nd out of 161 countries, just behind
Poland and ahead of France, and is the best rated “mostly free” economy
in the former Soviet Union. Georgia is ranked 100th, Azerbaijan – 103rd,
and Turkey – 112th.

The study notes the Armenian government’s sound fiscal policies, low
level of protectionism, but also continued problems with revenue
collection. While these revenues have grown significantly in recent
years, they remain low when compared to the overall size of the economy.
In his comments in recent weeks, President Robert Kocharian promised a
crackdown on tax and tariff evaders both in the business sector and
among corrupt government officials. (Sources: Armenia This Week 1-16-04;
Arminfo 12-27, 1-10; <;
)

A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY THE ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA

122 C Street, N.W., Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20001 (202) 393-3434 FAX
(202) 638-4904

E-Mail [email protected] WEB

15.12.2004

The Baltic Times [Riga, Latvia]

TURKEY MUST FACE THE TRUTH

The debate over whether to include Turkey in the European Union
crystallizes the essence of what it means to be “European.” Not
surprisingly, the range of answers is broad, often diametrically
opposite. Geography, history, religion, economics and even mentality
have been cited as reasons why or why not to invite the Muslim country
to the world’s biggest economic bloc. Simple “expansion-fatigue” within
the 25-nation (and soon to be 27-nation) union is another.

One thing you can’t take away from Turkey: the country truly longs to be
a EU member. Both its political leaders and the public, any the
religious and the secular segments of society, want to build their
future as part of Europe. They have had this desire for decades now,
even throughout the multiple political changes and economic pitfalls the
country has undergone.

As a result, on Dec. 17 EU leaders are likely to give the green light to
begin accession talks – e.g., to designate Turkey a candidate country
for membership – at their summit in Brussels. This will entail 10 – 15
years of accession negotiations before the country is formally granted
member status, and there are likely to be a number of stop signs and
roadblocks along the way. But even on this score the debate is heated,
with pro-Turkey advocates arguing that accession criteria for the
70-million-plus country should be no different than for, say, miniscule
Malta.

But they should. The choice of accepting an ant or an elephant into the
family has radically different implications for the household, and those
who are blind to that are likely to be the first to complain when
something goes wrong later.

Regarding Turkish membership, the real issue is not about size. It is
about mentality. Specifically, the country has refused to acknowledge
the genocide of 1915, when over 1 million Armenians were led to their
death in the Syrian deserts or just slaughtered. The incident has been
well documented and includes thousands of eyewitness accounts. Yet
Turkey continues to deny it, saying a lot of people died at the time,
including Turks (an argument Russia employs in regards to WWII, as Balts
are well aware). The country has closed its archives and even banned use
of the word genocide. Is this the behavior of someone ready for Europe?

Imagine how different Europe would be today if for the past 60 years
Germany had denied the Holocaust. Now transfer that image onto the
Anatolian peninsula and you will see what is taking place today – Turks,
Kurds and Armenians living side by side and in a state of deep animosity
and suspicion.

Thankfully, France has taken the lead in putting the genocide issue on
the accession table. (France is one of the only countries that has
recognized the 1915 Genocide. The United States hasn’t.)* Foreign
Minister Michel Barnier said last week that France wants Turkey to
recognize the genocide as part of its membership requirements. “This is
an issue that we will raise during the negotiation process. We will have
about 10 years to do so, and the Turks will have about 10 years to
ponder their answer,” he said.

It was the first time someone has tried to link EU membership with the
Ottoman atrocities. As expected, the reaction from Ankara was swift and
unequivocal, with one official saying that Turkey would never recognize
the “so-called genocide.”

If that is the case, then the door to the EU should be closed. As a
Polish poet once wrote, “How frightening is the past that awaits us.” If
a country cannot come to terms with its past – as Germany has – then the
future will have precious little to offer it. In Europe, truth and
reconciliation must come first.

* AAA Note: The Armenian Genocide had been affirmed by the United States
in the past. The April 21, 1981 proclamation by then President Ronald
Reagan used the term Genocide in reference to the Armenian deportation
and massacres, although subsequent U.S. presidential statements
commemorating the events have avoided the term.

The Genocide has also been affirmed by a number of national parliaments
around the world, most recently by the Netherlands on December 21, 2004.
Other countries, whose parliaments have affirmed the Armenian Genocide
include: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy,
Lebanon, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States and
Uruguay.

Visit and
to learn more.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
January 10, 2005 Monday 10:57 AM Eastern Time

Russia, Georgia to launch railway ferry service (adds)

By Eka Mekuzla

TBILISI

Georgia and Russia have agreed to launch railway ferry service
between the Georgian port of Poti and the Russian port of Kavkaz.

Georgian Economic Development Minister Aleksi Aleksishvili and
Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin signed three relevant
documents in Tbilisi on Monday.

Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, who attended the signing ceremony, said
“The agreements and the launching of ferry service between the ports
of Poti and Kavkaz will create positive tendencies in the development
of trade relations between Georgia and Russia.”

The documents cover ferry service, carriage rules, and temporary
ferry operation rules. “The temporary ferry operation rules will be
in force till February, when railway carriage member-countries are to
hold a meeting on the ferry service,” Levitin said.

The Poti-Kavkaz ferry service will also be available to Armenia,
Azerbaijan, and Central Asian countries.

The ferry will make its first trip in late January. At first it will
run once in three days and transport 25 railway carriages.

The launching of the ferry service is very important since there has
been no railway communication between Russia and Georgia in the last
12 years. It was suspended in August 1992 after a military conflict
had broken out in the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.

Sunday Mercury
January 9, 2005, Sunday

Andy Halder cannot wait to fight Arsen Khachatrian

IAN CLARKSON DETERMINED

ANDY Halder is being lined up for a crack at the WBF World
Middleweight title in March.

Halder, 31, currently holds the WBF Inter-Continental belt and his
manager, Jack Weaver, is in talks to set up a fight with Arsen
Khachatrian.

He came of age in 2004 when he picked up the Midland Area title as
well, and would relish the chance of fighting the Armenian-born,
French-based champion.

Khachatrian has won 25 of his 26 fights and the plan would be to
bring him over to Coventry in early March.

But there is also a possibility of Halder meeting Donovan Smillie in
a British title final eliminator. It would double up as an English
title fight with the winner taking on Scott Dann later in the year.

But Halder has slammed rumours that he is being lined up to fight
Coventry’s other middleweight hope – Steve Bendall.

Bendall, who lost against Dann for the British title in September,
has been based in Bournemouth but looks set to return to the
Midlands.

Yet Halder insists he will not be locking horns with Bendall in the
foreseeable future.

‘People have been asking me when I am going to fight Bendall, but it
isn’t going to happen,’ said Halder.

‘He has spoken to Jack recently, so could well be in our camp soon,
and we have no reason to fight each other at present either. I have
got a feeling that 2005 is going to be my year as I have improved
enormously in the last 12 months.

‘I told Jack that I had a dream recently where I won a really big
fight – I hope it comes true.

‘If there was a world title fight in Coventry I am sure we could pack
out any venue.

‘Whoever I fight, Smillie or Khachatrian, I am confident of winning.
The French bloke has won 25 of his 26 fights, but a lot of his fights
have been set up for him.

‘It is easy to have an impressive record if you are fighting
debutants and journeymen.

‘I reckon that people look at my record, see that I only have one
knockout and think that they have a chance.

‘But they don’t realise that I have been in against some good people.
I haven’t fought any mugs.

‘The power is there but it is harder to knock good fighters down.

‘However, when I beat Roddy Doran earlier in the year, I was the
first person to knock him down.’

Halder, who is now full-time following his decision to quit his job
as a trucker four months ago, will be raring to go when his schedule
is announced.

‘The Technician’, as he is known, has been training flat out over the
festive period, apart from Christmas Day.

And Halder hopes that he won’t have any more false starts after a
frustrating end to 2004.

‘I think that the BBBC should introduce a rule that stops boxers
cancelling on the day of a fight.

‘I drove all the way up to Sunderland for a bout in November, only to
be told that my opponent had pulled out at the last minute.

Frustrating

‘That can’t be right and I was fuming. I ended up boxing in an
exhibition, which is basically a glorified sparring session. And then
I was due to fight Jason Collins in December – who is from the same
camp as Smillie – and he pulled out on the morning of the fight.

‘Something needs to be done as it is really frustrating. However, I
won’t be ring-rusty when I get my title shot his year – I know that
for a fact.’

Meanwhile, Stourbridge’s Rob Norton could well be taking on John
‘Buster’ Keeton for the vacant English cruiserweight title next
month.

Norton is hoping for a crack at the British title against Mark
Hobson, but may well take the fight against Keeton to keep busy.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
January 9, 2005 Sunday

Armenia content with Georgia-Russia direct railway ferry opening

By Tengiz Pachkoria

TBILISI

Armenian Transportation Minister Andranik Markaryan is satisfied with
the decision of Georgia and Russia to open a direct railway ferry
connection. He said so in the Georgian capital Tbilisi on Sunday
evening.

The Armenian minister pointed out that the ferry between the ports of
Poti (Georgia) and Kavkaz (Russia) is “a shorter way for carrying
cargoes by trains than the Poti-Ilyichevsk ferry crossing.”

Markaryan believes it is “important” that the Poti-Kavkaz railway
ferry can be used not only by Georgia and Russia, but also by other
Southern Caucasus countries.

On Monday Markaryan and members of a delegation of the Azerbaijani
transportation ministry arriving in Tbilisi will hold talks with
Russian Transportation Minister Igor Levitin, who is also in Tbilisi,
and Georgian officials.

The sides will discuss issues of cooperation between railways of
Caucasian countries.

According to available information, the sides will discuss the issue
concerning the terms of the establishment of a consortium of railway
companies of four countries: Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Jan 10 2005

Second international specialized exhibition `Construction and Repairs
EXPO 2005′ to take place on Feb 16-18 in Yerevan

International business forum `Bridge 2005′ to take place on Feb 25-28
in Tsakhkadzor (Armenia)

RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs receives director of USAID
Office of Democracy and Social Reforms

RA President appoints new Deputy Chief of National Security Service

*********************************************************************

SECOND INTERNATIONAL SPECIALIZED EXHIBITION `CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIRS
EXPO 2005′ TO TAKE PLACE ON FEB 16-18 IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, January 10. /ARKA/. Second international specialized
exhibition `Construction and Repairs EXPO 2005′ will take place on
Feb 16-18 in Yerevan, LOGOS EXPO Center told ARKA. Basic goals of the
exhibition are provision of spectrum of leading construction
technologies necessary for high quality and profitable construction
to the consumer, which will assist improvement of apartment
conditions of Armenian citizens. A goal of the exhibition is also
assistance to business cooperation between local and foreign
organizations. The exhibition will represent construction materials,
sanitary engineering, furniture and accessories, interior and
exterior, and heating systems. Companies from Armenia, Russia,
Ukraine, Turkey, Iran, Italy, England, Austria, Hungary, India and
France will take part in the exhibition.
Exhibition will be conducted in assistance of RA Ministry of Trade
and Economic Development, RA MFA and UMEA. Firs exhibition was
conducted on Feb 23-25, 2004. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FORUM `BRIDGE 2005′ TO TAKE PLACE ON FEB 25-28
IN TSAKHKADZOR (ARMENIA)

YEREVAN, January 10. /ARKA/. International business forum `Bridge
2005′ will take place on Feb 25-28 in Tsakhkadzor (Armenia),
organizational committee of the forum told ARKA. The activity will
include representatives of business circles of European, Asian and
American countries and staff members of ministries and official
departments, trade-industrial chambers, branch unions and
associations of country-participants. The parties will discuss issues
considering investment climate, export-import, ecology of production,
problems of business cooperation and others.
Organizer of business forum is Center for Assistance to International
Integration `Master’. The forum will take place in official support
of RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, RA Foreign
Ministry, CBA and UMEA. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

RA MINISTER OF LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS RECEIVES DIRECTOR OF USAID
OFFICE OF DEMOCRACY AND SOCIAL REFORMS

YEREVAN, January 10. /ARKA/. RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs
Aghvan Vardanian received Director of USAID Office of Democracy and
Social Reforms Ketlin MacDonald, the Ministry told ARKA. During the
meeting the parties highly estimated the results of joint Program of
social reforms realized since 2002 and discussed program for
2005-2007.
At this the Minister represented most important goals of the program.
Namely, Vardanian noted the reforms in the field of pension
provision, use of social cards, establishment of State inspection on
labor, improvement of family relief system, optimization of
management system and organization of works in society awareness.
L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

RA PRESIDENT APPOINTS NEW DEPUTY CHIEF OF NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICE

YEREVAN, January 10. /ARKA/. By the decree of RA President Robert
Kocharian, Grigori Grigoryan was released from the post of the First
Deputy Chief of National Security Service at the RA Government in
connection with retirement age. As the Press Service of RA President
told ARKA, in accordance with the other decree of the President,
Hrachya Harutunyan was appointed First Deputy Chief of National
Security Service at the RA Government. L.V.-0–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
01/10/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) Armenian & Greek Leaders Discuss EU Issues with Congressman Robert Andrews
during California Visit
2) OSCE Minsk Co-chair Calls for Azeri Concession
3) Another Assault by a Yesihva Student on an Armenian Priest
4) Prelate’s New Year and Christmas Dinner Complete Success

1) Armenian & Greek Leaders Discuss EU Issues with Congressman Robert Andrews
during California Visit

GLENDALE–Members of the Board of Directors of the Armenian National Committee
of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR), along with members of the Board of
Directors of the American Hellenic Council (AHC), met with Congressman Robert
Andrews (D-NJ) at the ANCA-WR headquarters in Glendale, California during the
Congressman’s visit to Southern California on December 27. Representatives of
the ANCA-WR and the AHC voiced their concerns about the Republic of Turkey’s
attempts to join the European Union among other issues related to American
foreign policy in regard to Armenia, Greece, and Cyprus.
ANCA-WR Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian thanked the Congressman for
his
support of the Greek and Armenian communities. Explaining that the Greek and
Armenian communities were very concerned with the United States’ active
role in
advancing Turkey’s ambitions for EU membership, Kassakhian pointed out that
Turkey has to conform to and adopt the basic standards of human rights by
which
the EU nations and the US abide. In addition to emphasizing Turkey’s overall
abysmal record on human rights, Kassakhian told Congressman Andrews of the
importance of including recognition of the Armenian genocide as a precondition
to Turkey’s entry into the EU.
AHC President Dinos Andrianos expressed the Greek American community’s
concerns regarding the tacit US support of the controversial Annan Plan for
Cyprus which favors Turkey’s position. The plan proposed by UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan would require that the Turkish occupying force vacate most
of northern Cyprus, but allow Turkey to retain control of key areas on the
island nation. Cypriots have overwhelmingly rejected the Annan Plan as have
Armenian Cypriots.
Congressman Andrews urged the ANC and AHC to continue their bipartisan
outreach to members of Congress, adding that the public awareness campaign is
working within the halls of Congress where most of the members are supportive
of Armenian and Greek issues. Congressman Andrews commended the ANC and AHC
for
keeping their respective communities informed and involved in the political
process.
Representing New Jersey’s 1st Congressional District, Congressman Andrews
is a
member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. He sits on the House of
Representatives Select Committee on Homeland Security and the Education and
Workforce Committee. The Congressman has consistently supported Armenian
issues
and has earned an A or better on the ANCA Congressional Report Card during the
last two election cycles.
The American Hellenic Council (AHC) is a non-partisan political advocacy
organization based in California, whose purpose of AHC is to lobby and inform
congress about Greek American interests and issues.

2) OSCE Minsk Co-chair Calls for Azeri Concession

BAKU (Armenpress)–According to an interview published in the Azeri daily
Ekspress, the Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group revealed that
Armenian and Azeri officials are negotiating an agreement to the Mountainous
Karabagh conflict.
Russian diplomat Yuri Merzlyakov also called on Azerbaijan to make
concessions
during upcoming talks between Azeri and Armenian foreign ministers Elmar
Mamedyarov and Vartan Oskanian in Prague.
Yuri Merzlyakov described the scheduled January 11 talks in Prague as
“decisive,” saying that “Armenia has agreed to some concessions. Now, it is
Azerbaijan’s turn.”
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev recently told his Security Council that a new
stage in settling the Karabagh conflict has begun, and that the Prague process
foresees a resolution to the conflict that would be “favorable to Azerbaijan.”
Merzlyakov reacted, saying that though proposals put forth by Baku would not
be ruled out, mutual steps must be taken, and desire must be “demonstrated and
coordinated.”
“Dialogue can continue towards a final resolution–should the Prague meeting
produce any specific results,” the Russian co-chairman stressed. He said the
meeting of the ministers “will cast some light on many questions about the
evaluation of the situation, specific proposals and prospects of holding more
talks: Armenia has agreed to some concessions. Now, it is Azerbaijan’s turn.”

3) Another Assault by a Yesihva Student on an Armenian Priest

By Bedross Der Matossian

JERUSALEM–While Armenians all over the world were celebrating Christmas on
January 6, Armenians of Jerusalem were celebrating the feast of Saint James
the
Lesser First Bishop of Jerusalem and the feast of King David.
On the same day, Father Avedis Ipradjian woke up early to go to the Church of
Virgin Mary to conduct mass. After completing his duties, he returned back to
the Monastery of St. James to take part in the Holy Mass.
“While I was standing in front of the Monastery’s main gate, a Yeshiva
student
came and spat on me,” he said. Father Avedis, who did not resort to any
kind of
violence, tried to convince the Yeshiva student to go with him to the police
station and resolve the issue peacefully. “I told him that he has to apologize
for the incident and go with me to the police station, but, on the
contrary, he
continued cursing at me,” Father Avedis said furiously.
While the altercation between Father Avedis and the Yeshiva student was
taking
place, a taxi carrying four Yeshiva students stopped nearby. The students
immediately came to aid of the Yeshiva Student. “Suddenly, one of them
attacked
me and I still did not resort to any kind of violence,” Father Avedis said.
Meanwhile, a representative from the Foreign Ministry, who happened to be in
the area and was accompanied by European diplomats and Israeli security,
immediately came to the aid of Father Avedis. “The official immediately ran
towards me and asked me if I need any help…Then he tried to stop the Yeshiva
students, but he himself was assaulted. Consequently, the Israeli security
interfered and tried to detain the Yeshiva students,” he said.
After the arrival of the police, the four Yeshiva students were arrested and
taken to the nearby police station. Father Avedis was also called to give a
statement.
Bishop Aris Shirvanian, director of ecumenical and foreign relations of the
Patriarchate of the Armenian Orthodox Church in the Holy Land, who had gone
directly to the police station, contacted Mr. Mordechai Levi, the newly
appointed advisor on Christian affairs to Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski.
“Right away, Mr. Levi rushed to the police station and condemned the
incident,”
Bishop Shirvanian said.
That same evening, the Jerusalem Post reported that the assault on the priest
was immediately condemned by the New York-based Anti Defamation League, and,
later, by the Mayor of Jerusalem. “This kind of behavior is outrageous,
inappropriate, and goes against all Jewish teachings,” said the Co-Director of
the ADL’s Israel Office Laura Kam Issacharoff to the Jerusalem Post. Moreover,
according to the Jerusalem Post, Mayor Uri Lupolianski also condemned the
attack, which he called a “despicable act…likely to harm the delicate
relations that exist in Jerusalem.” The Mayor added, “Jewish people, who were
subject to centuries of persecution abroad, should be the first to show
tolerance and moderation to others.”
According to Bishop Shirvanian, this kind of assault is not only against the
Armenians, but is also directed against all the Christian denominations. He
added that behavior of the sort is restricted only to an extreme segment of
Orthodox Jews. “During a meeting between the Christian church leaders and the
Jewish Orthodox Rabbis last month, the Jewish Orthodox leaders condemned these
kinds of acts,” Bishop Shirvanian said.
Father Norayr Kazazian, who also rushed to the police station, expressed
concern that such incidents are still occurring. “We all have to learn to live
peacefully with each other and respect each other. Jerusalem is not only a
Holy
place for the Jews, but also for Christians and Muslims.”
This is the second assault on an Armenian clergy in the last three months. In
October 2003, Bishop Nourhan Manougian was assaulted by a Yeshiva student
while
leading a procession marking the Exaltation of the Holy Cross near the Church
of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City.

4) Prelate’s New Year and Christmas Dinner Complete Success

LOS ANGELES–On January 6, Western Prelacy supporters gathered at Montebello’s
Baghramian Hall to celebrate Armenian Christmas Eve at the Prelate’s
traditional New Year and Christmas Dinner. Present at the joyous event were
representatives of various Armenian organizations, numerous dignitaries,
including Consul General of the Republic of Armenia Gagik Kirakosian and loyal
supporters of the Prelacy’s mission.
Under the auspices of Prelate Bishop Mousegh Mardirossian, several large
contributions highlighted the evening’s festivities. Mrs. Ashkhen Pilavjian
made a donation of $200,000 to sponsor the ARS Preschool of the San Fernando
Valley. Philanthropist Charles Keyan, who had established a $50,000
scholarship
fund for Mesrobian High School in 2004, boosted the total sum to $100,000.
Mrs.
Rose Kasimian donated $150,000 to the Prelacy in memory of her late husband,
Mr. Kegham Kasimian. Mrs. Kasimian will be sponsoring the Media Department of
the Prelacy as well as a Khachkar and several religious publications.
A donation of $50,000 from the Compatriotic Union of Ourfa will be
used to
sponsor the Western Memorial Wall of the Prelacy Building, as well as a
khachkar and a fountain on the premises.
Longtime Prelacy supporters, Mr. and Mrs. John and Asdghig Bedrosian, who
have hosted the annual dinner for several years now, also made a generous
donation to the newly established Mortgage Burning Fund for the Prelacy
building.

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